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SEX AND THE MORAL BOUNDARIES OF FILIPINA MIGRANT HOSTESSES IN JAPAN
RHACEL PARREÑASAMERICAN CIVILIZATION AND SOCIOLOGY
BROWN UNIVERSITY
Cultures of Flirtation
U.S. TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT
“On arrival at their destination, victims are stripped of their passports and travel documents and forced into situations of sexual exploitation or bonded servitude….For example, it is reported that Japan issued 55,000 entertainer visas to women from the Philippines in 2003, many of whom are suspected of having become trafficked victims.” U.S. Department of State, (2004: 14)
U.S. TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT
“A significant number of the 71, 084 Philippine women who entered Japan as overseas performance artists in 2004 are believed to have been women trafficked into the sex trade.” U.S. Department of State, (2005: 178).
METHODS
Fieldwork: April to November 2005Participant Observation (three months of
work as a hostess)Interviews with 56 hostesses (45 females and
11 transgender)Supplementary interviews with club owners,
middleman brokers and state representatives in Japan and the Philippines.
WHY FILIPINO HOSTESSES?
Historically composed approximately 60 percent of foreign hostesses in Japan (Oishi, 2005)
Drastic decline in numbers since labeling as “trafficked persons” by U.S. Department of State 80,000 in 2004 to 35,000 in 2005 to 10,000 in 2006
MORAL CONSERVATIVES
Rejects direct purchase of sexHides nature of work (i.e., flirtation) from
family and friends in the PhilippinesConsciously desexualizes interactions with
customersFirst timers or born-again Christians
MORAL RATIONALISTS
Willingly participates in commercial sexual exchanges
More likely to “cross the line” inside and not outside the club
Rejects the notion that emotions are a prerequisite to morally acceptable sexual relations
MORAL IN-BETWEENERS
Dominant group in communityUses sexuality overtly with customersRejects the direct purchase of sexParticipates in the indirect purchase of sexExchanges sex for money indirectly only with
“boyfriends”
SITUATIONS OF TRAFFICKING
Trafficking is not a universal occurrence Trafficking arises in particular contexts
MORAL REGIMES OF CLUB: moral regime of workplace disagrees with moral boundary of hostess (e.g. a moral conservative is placed at a moral rationalist club) = Moral Violations
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Contract workers are more vulnerable to trafficking than are part time workers (undocumented workers and documented workers) because they cannot easily quit
Is Trafficking Inevitable?
Moral violations do not automatically result in trafficking Morals are flexible and could shift to fit moral regime
of workplace; Some quit.
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