Studi Emigrazione
Volume 42, Issue 159, 2005, Pages 519-545

The strength of illusion: female migration and trafficking of human beings [La forza delle illusioni: Donne migranti e traffico di esseri umani] (Article)

Mascellini F.*
  • a Dossier Statistico Immigrazione Caritas Migrantes, Roma, Italy

Abstract

The development of female immigration in Italy is interlinked with trafficking in human beings and the sexual exploitation of women. The ethnic networks through which migration is facilitated are often times the channel used by transnational criminal organizations to reduce these women into slavery. Patterns of exploitation are diversified, depending on the area of origin, along ethnic lines: Nigerian prostitution is different from that of young Albanians and East European girls - due to different strategies in recruitment, transport to Western countries, and coercive measures applied to controlling trafficked women. Therefore, the prostitution of migrant women in Western countries should be treated as a complex issue within the framework of globalization. The women involved actually seem to be induced to forcibly selling their bodies in a society that creates a demand for sexual services and stimulates the corresponding offer in developing countries though dissemination of welfare expectations that induce to migrate al all costs, even as undocumented persons.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant population trafficking womens status prostitution

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-27644494214&partnerID=40&md5=7e2997644bcb2ba41326211a189e3e7f

ISSN: 00392936
Original Language: Italian