Migrant Roundtab

BY DEBORAH BROCK, KARA GILLIES, CHANTELLE OLIVER, AND MOOK

L'auteure explore ici comment le secure labour and immigration rights protectionisme national et sexuel for migrant sex workers. However, s'entrecroise et rejoint le racisme et Over the past we recognize that these kinds ofrights l'ethnocentrisme pour de'finir three to five years can only be secured when accompa- /'emigrant "bon" ou 'cmauuais" et nied by the decriminalization ofpros- l 'etranger '7Jgal"ou 'i'lICgaf, "surfond that there has titution related activities (communi- a% restrictionsajoutPesd I'immigration.. been a huge cation for the purpose of prostitu- tion; procuring; being an inmate of, In 1997, Toronto newspapers began influx of women or keeping, a common bawdy-house) to report on a series of raids on strip coming into in Canada. As long as - clubs and apartments, where women Canada, related activities remain criminalized who had migrated from outside of and highly stigmatized, sex workers Canada were allegedly working as particularly to will remain vulnerable to abuse and prostitutes. For those of us who had Toronto, to work deportation, with no recourse to been working on sex trade issues as labour law protection or other basic political allies, this report alerted us in various parts rights. to what women working within the of the sex trade. This article is part of a longer trade already knew; the character of dialogue that the four of us engaged sex work in this city was rapidly in around Chantelle's kitchen table changing as women began to find nomic remuneration, women who in October of 1999. We hope that it their way to Canada, through what- work in them are generally adamant contributes to a better understand- ever means were available, for the about distinguishing what they do ing of the situation facing migrant economic opportunities that sex work from prostitution because of the sex workers in Canada, as well as in Canada provided. Tensions were stigma and criminal sanctions sur- demonstrating the hidden role of mounting between migrant and Ca- r~undin~prostitution.Manywill not migrant sex workers in productions nadian-born sex workers; the latter associate with organizations whose of nation. assumed (often incorrectly) that mi- mandate it is to support prostitutes. -Deborah Brock, July 2000. grant workers both undercut their Kara, Mook, Chantelle, and I ***** prices and divided the pie of avail- agreed to meet to discuss the growth Kara: I certainly have noticed over able income into thinner slices. of migrant sex work in Toronto. All the past three to five years that there Building links among sex workers of us were committed to an analysis hasbeen a huge influx of women was made difficult, however, because ofsex work which understood it as a coming into Canada, particularly to so many of the migrant sex workers form oflabour through which women Toronto, to work in various parts of were undocumented or had entered could exercise self-determination, the sex trade. Canada for a different purpose (for rather than simply as an expression Destinations for migrant- sexwork- example, as students), and were com- ofwomen's sexual objectification and ers that were popular in the past, pelled to work in an even more clan- ' victimization. We believed it par- such as European countries, Austra- destine fashion than Canadian-born ticularly appropriate to extend this lia, New Zealand, many of these or landed-immigrant sex workers. kind of analysis to migrant sex work, countries have already taken action Finally, "sex work" encompasses a given that it is occurring in the con- on not just the issue of migrant sex range of occupations, including text of capitalist and a workers, but migrant workers in gen- dancer, phone sex worker, escort, significant increase ofmigrant labour eral, including so-called illegal mi- and massage parlour worker, as well generally. As activists, we knew that grant workers. They've tightened up as prostitutionwithout guises. While this kind of dialogue was an impor- their borders. They brought in a lot theseoccupations invariably involves tant step in the process ofdeveloping ofvery restrictive and indeed regres- a provision ofsexual services for eco- political strategies about how best to sive immigration policies and so

CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME SUTDHIBHASILP workers are now having to travel conceptualize migrant sexworkers as what is often greater distances, in economic migrants, who are part of order to find work. So Canada has The "new" global the flow of labour which accompa- become a very popular destination. nies the flow of capital. Women's Mook: I can speak to the situation economy has seen a movement across borders has largely of Thai migrant workers. Until 10- rise in the number occurred as the chattel of men, and 20 years ago, Thai citizens could go of paid women Canada's immigration policy has to European countries to workwith- certainly served to sustain that model. out too much difficulty. Now Euro- workers sustaining However, the "new" global economy pean countries have visa regulations their families has seen a rise in the number of paid which tend toward closing the bor- womenworkerssustaining their fami- ders. So I think that's one ofthe push through factory lies through factory work, domestic factors which have led Thai citizens work, domestic labour, and sex work, whether at to Canada. Globalization and the labour, and sex home or abroad. These workers are economic crises in Asian countries largely women of colour, and racist and in Eastern European countries work, whether at and sexist ideologies are certainly a have also contributed. home or abroad. factor in ensuring that they are a Kara: I don't think it's any coinci- source of cheap labour. For some of dence that the majority. . of women them, sex work will appear to be the who come to Canada to work are the flow of labour is not only one best option, particularly when they indeed comingfrom South East Asian way. However, the numbers ofpeople consider that they could be losing countries and Eastern European from the so-called third world coun- their eyesight working as an assem- countries because these are sites of tries going to industrialized coun- bler in a microelectronics factory, or economic and political upheaval. tries are greater than the numbers of sewing clothes in a sweat shop, for a Transnational corporations are mov- people from industrialized countries whole lot less money. We need to ing into countries in these regions to going to the third world. conceptualize these women as hav- make use of cheap labour. Poverty is Kara: Part ofit is a reflection ofthe ing some agency, even within con- growing, particularly for women. very real concentration of wealth in strained options. While men also are travelling in or- the West or in the North, but at the Kara: Some migrant sex workers der to find work, women are under same time, I think many of these are coming to Canadawith the hopes increasing pressure to support them- women have been exposed to overly of becoming a landed immigrant selves and their families and, of romanticized views of what it's like eventually. Others are simply travel- course, the sorts of markets that are to work and live in Canada in the ling for the purpose ofmaking money available to women, locally and over- midst of this wealth. over a pre-established period oftime, seas, are often very limited. We're Chantelle: I think that the infiltra- and plan on either returning to their talking about domestic work, we're tion ofNorth American popular cul- country of origin or moving on to talking about sex work, these are ture into the rest ofthe world is a big another destination. These women areas where women's work is in de- part of it too. A lot of the women are often really taken aback to find mand and they'll hopefully be com- whom I met while working as a dancer that they aren't making more money, pensated. So we're seeing a lot of said that they chose to come here, they aren't working fewer hours, and women travelling now, hoping to not to leave a horrible situation, but the quality of their lives is equal to or sometimes make a fortune, but other believing that it would be better here. less than what it was in their home times just to manage to support them- North American TV makes where countries where they were also work- selves and get by. they are appear to be undesirable in ing- in the sex trade. Mook: Wesee anumber ofwomen comparison. I think it's interesting because of- from Russia going to Thailand, so Debi: It is important for us to ten when we hear the term migrant

VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2 sex worker, or even , performed and the venue in which it ing glamourous shows on stages, there is an assumption that we're is performed varies as well. Women wearing great costumes. What they talkingabout women who are travel- coming in to the country specifically gave her was little Spandex bathing ling from say, the south to the north to dance face different challenges suits, not sequins. Many of them are or the east to the west, coming from than women who come in specifi- surprised by the dirtiness ofthe clubs. very oppressive conditions and usu- cally to work in prostitution. It ap- They thought of Canada as a first- ally through organized channels, pears to me that women coming to world, clean country. Alot ofwomen, whether those channels are "crimi- work in massage parlours know that especially Eastern Bloc women, are nal" in nature or not. Yet certainly, I they aren't coming to provide mas- living at the clubs in rooms over think those of us in the business them. The rooms are equally tiny know a multitude ofwomen who are and dingy. It's demoralizing. migrant workers but who have come Migrant sex workers Mook: Some of the Thai women to Canada on their own, with fam- mentioned that to me too, they didn't ily, with friends. I know quite a few will get busted know they would be living and work- women who have come to Canada because the police ing in the same place in a one-bed- for an arranged marriage, or come to target the room apartment. They live in the Canada on student visas and had the room and the next day they see cus- situation not work out. Some find businesses that tomers there. They were told that themselves stuck in an abusive mar- employ them. They prostitution is legal in Canada. Or riage in a foreign countrywith either that they can work as a masseuse no status or status that is dependent have no labour law because the owner has a licence. But on them staying in the abusive rela- protection, they then the police arrive. tionship. Toget out ofthe marriage, face deportation, I think that the issues of migrant they have to go underground, and sexworkers overlap with the issues of one of the few options is the sex and they face undocumented migrant workers in trade. It has amazed me over the criminal charges. general. They also overlap with the years, the number ofwomen whom issues oflocal sex workers. However, I have worked with in massage being a migrant sex worker is more parlours and escort agencies who at complicated than either one of these first are a little sketchy about what sages only, and that prostitution is positions. There is a high chance that their background is. They don't want involved. They may not be told that migrant sex workers will get busted to talk, but after they've worked with specifically because there is cover-up because the police target the busi- you for awhile and you come to trust jargon that agents, managers and nesses that employ them. They have each other as people and as col- girls themselves have had to develop no labour law protection, they face leagues, they will say, "I said I was in order to avoid detection by law deportation, and they face criminal from Turkey but I'm really Iranian," enforcement and immigration offi- charges related to prostitution. or "I came here to get married," or "I cials. Kara: There is often the assump- came here to go to school," or "I But it's certainly been my observa- tion, and this is true for local sex came here because my family sent tion that women who come to work workers as well, that if you're work- me," and they're stuck. They tell me in the strip clubs are subjected more ing independently and have more "This is a way of making money so I regularly to some degree of deceit. autonomy over your workplace, you can return home" or "I didn't like So, I guess the questions become: are coming from a position of privi- the situation I was in and this is a Was it deliberate deceit? Were they lege and every thing's^-OK. If you are better option for me at this time." explicitly lied to in order to lure working for a third party you are Mook: As we know, migrant sex them overseas, put them into debt, automatically subject to abuse and workers are not a homogenous group. and, to some degree, force them to exploitation. I think when we look at

They vary by country oforigin. Even work in a capacity that they really migrant- sex workers we can say there a single country of origin will pro- haven't chosen? Or, is it once again, are large numbers who come over duce a diverse group ofwomen. For a matter of the key words, language, independently, large numbers who example, they are not only the un- specific industry jargon that some come through organized channels, educated. I wish that we could have women simply aren't accustomed to and yet it's not whether they're inde- them join in this kind of discussion. on a local level? pendent or working for a third party I hope that time comes soon, but Chantelle: I spoke to one woman which is going to ultimately dictate there are too many risks and barriers who had watched a movie, I think it their satisfaction with their working for them right now. was Striptease, and thought that was conditions. It is the particulars of Kara: The type of sex work that is what she would be doing, perform- their work environment, ofthework

CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIESILES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME they're having to do, of their under- When we saw the distinctions be- fickers. In late nineteenth and early standing of what the work involves tween "good" and "bad" immigrants twentieth century anti-trafficking and what the pay is going to be. I intensifying in conjunction with the discourse, traffickers were generally think it's also important to under- deepeningeconomic problems which portrayed as individual immigrant/ stand that while there are indepen- were incurred by putting neo-liberal "foreign" men. Now they are por- dent women coming to Canada who economic policies into practice in trayed as international/"foreign" find themselves in abusive or really this country, we could see support criminal syndicates. Not much has unsupportive working situations, for more restrictive immigration changed. So tougher immigration there are women who come through policies being garnered through a policies are equated with protecting organized crime networks who say, women and protecting the Cana- "You knowwhat? Like anything there dian nation, simultaneously, from are ups and downs, but this has We see discourses the (usually masculine) foreigner. worked for me and I'm going to Kara: The United Nations iswork- continue to travel, I'm going to con- of gender ing on developing new provisions tinue to go to different countries and protection and concerning the suppression and make the money that I can." Many national protection elimination of trafficking in women will say that their greatest fear is and children, which are being intro- being found and deported or finding intersecting and duced as supplementary to their pro- themselves facing criminal and im- connecting with visions for the suppression of migration charges. transnational organized crime. The Chantelle: Many of the women racism and two are being very closely linked. have a good situation, although per- ethnocentricism to This will supercede the United Na- haps not ideal. People hear "migrant tions 1949 Convention for the Sup- sex worker" and think, we have to support definitions pression ofthe Traffic in Persons and save them and send them all home, of the "good" and the Exploitation of the Prostitution or take them out ofthat life. But yes, "bad" immigrant. of Others. the biggest threat to them may be It is difficult to develop an agreed getting found out, perhaps facing upon definition of organized crime. criminal charges or deportation. Could one argue that if an activity is Debi: Over the last several years, campaign devoted to purportedly criminalized, the way prostitution is there have been numerous raids on exposing the criminal immigrant. largely criminalized, then any attempt clubs and apartments in Toronto This campaign was so effectively by people to organize a business where migrant sex workers are em- mobilized in the mainstream Toronto around prostitution could belabelled ployed. Police and the media have media that to simply be a Black or organized crime? Of course, many represented these places as dens of Latino male was to be placed under women work for or with individuals female sexual slavery and organized suspicion. More recently, we see dis- or groups that we might all agree crime. The discourse of female sexual tinctions between legal and illegal constitute organized crime. How- slavery is being appropriated and immigrants (the former represented ever, many of them say that they get mobilized in conjunction with a as those who wait politely in line for better support and have better net- growing post cold war scare-the their turn to enter Canada, and the works within these syndicates than fear ofinternational organized crime. latter as those who jump the queue, they gain from social services or their Relatedly, we see discourses of gen- a sign that they are up to no good) larger- communities. I know that I've der protection and national protec- being deployed in the same way. It is worked for some organized crime tion intersecting and connectingwith one more example of how moral and had no problems at all. I recog- racism and ethnocentricism to sup- categories and judgements are orga- nize, though, that I have had au- port definitions of the "good and nized in support of sustaining a par- tonomy in my work and haven't "bad immigrant, and accompany- ticular model of the Canadian na- been dependent upon them for any- ingrestrictions on immigration. Pro- tion-white, western, and wealthy- thing more than my pay cheque. I posed changes to Canada's current against intruders who are perceived have my proper documentation, I've Citizenship Act would increase job to be a threat to this model. been a citizen. The situation can be skill requirements, lengthen thewait- By clamping down on prostitu- different for migrant sex workers. ing time for citizenship, tighten lan- tion involving migrant women, the But it is my observation that while guage requirements, and deny people police and the Canadian legal system some really bad stuff can be commit- citizenship in the name of "national are presented as actually working in ted within organized crime syndi- interest" if it is suspected that they the best interests of the women in- cates, they also have their own set of may commit a crime.' volved, by protecting them from traf- rules and set of ethics and a lot of

VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2 people are able to manage quite suc- The practices and experiences of ticularly the procuring and bawdy cessfully within that milieu. migrant sex work are much more house provisions, allegedly for the We talk about organized crime as complex than either of these posi- protection of women and girls. But though it is one unique entity, and tions would imply. I think that we when we actually look at how this yet there are different organizations; need to completely jettison the con- legislation has shaped actual prac- some of them are very loosely associ- cept of "trafficking" because it cre- tices, we find it is not really about the ated, some of them are very highly ates a significant misrepresentation protection of women at all, but has organized. I think that has an impact of migrant sex work, and impedes provided more legal mechanisms for on individual women's experiences our ability to do work which can the sexual policing and control of working for organized crime. I know potentially improve conditions for women and girls. So it is of great two women who are now working migrant sex workers. concern that some feminist organi- independently in massage parlours Chantelle: According to the courts, zations are taking up the discourse of in Toronto who came through what if you are not a victim, then you are trafficking in women, without learn- they realized, after the fact, must a criminal. If you say "yes, I'm a ing from the lessons of the past.3 have been an organized crime net- victim of a trafficker" you may be Kara: I think that's particularly work, from Malaysia into Thailand offered help. If you don't declare a true of the Coalition Against Traf- into Canada. And yet, it was so dis- victim status then you risk being ficking in Women (W), which is jointed, the hierarchy was so loosely deported as a criminal. organized by feminists like Janice put together that they never really Mook: From my experiencework- Raymond, Kathleen Barry, andsheila felt under the control of any one ing as an interpreter for women in Jeffreys, who hold up sex workers as organization. They did have some the courts, the judge and the legal symbols of women's general sexual negative experiences. For example, system assume that, ifyou are willing oppression. For them, all prostitu- the contract they had signed upon to come here, you are part of the tion is inherently coercive. They leaving Malaysia set out certain con- crime. Even in the case of involun- formed the organization in the ditions of work and the expectation tary prostitutes, the legal system United States in 1991, with the ulti- was they would work in a massage works against them. They're not true mate goal of abolishing prostitution parlour andsee 350 clients in Canada victims because they are not "good altogether. Their approach has been before earning income thatwould be victims." very influential on the way in which theirs to keep. When they arrived in Debi: To be a good victim, you the United Nations has taken up Canada they were told that they had have to have been drugged and kept trafficking issues. to see 450 clients. But they saw that under lock and key. Debi: With the development of as being the decision of the indi- Kara: I think that there is a sex worker run organizations, where vidual massage parlour manager and racialized and racist component as sex workers began to speak for them- weren't sure how far up in the hier- well. Women coming- from Asian selves, it became more difficult for archy this kind of duplicity went. countries are often characterised as feminists who had a particular kind Some anti-prostitution organizations being very passive, very innocent, of victimization perspective to im- might take this as evidence that these sweet village girls who don't know pose that uniformly and easily, be- women were trafficked, in that they any better. Women coming- from cause many of the women who had were not being given accurate and Eastern European countries are of- been labelled as victims were chal- sufficient information to make in- ten characterized as these tough lenging that. I am concerned that formed choices. However, to as- "gonna-see-it-through" broads. So some of the feminists who have be- sume this is to confuse labour abuses you have the racial and cultural ste- come concerned about migrant sex with trafficking. reotypes coming into play when it work have found a new population Debi: It is the organized crime comes to responses to migrant sex of women to label as victims and to networks which are being presented workers, even in the legal system. otherize in a way that they no longer as the modern day traffickers in Mook: Asian women are in effect can with non-migrant sex trade work- women. Yet the labelling of these asked, "are you a dragon lady or are ers. Their position utilizes racist and women as trafficked, as female sexual you avictim?"That's my experience. neo-colonialist stereotypesof Third slaves, erases many women's active Debi: I want to return for a minute World women of colour as passive participation in the daily survival of to the ways in which a "traffic in women who need to be rescued by their families and themselves. It ren- women" discoursewasfirst deployed independent northernlwestern femi- ders their labour invisible. I think by social reformers during the late nists.*Some of these women may be that the reality of these women's nineteenth century in Canada, the victimized in various kinds ofways as experiences belies the binary repre- United States and Britain. What they you've pointed out. However, we sentation of either complete coer- mobilized for andwon was an expan- have to look at this as a labour issue, cion or individual freedom ofchoice. sion ofcriminal code legislation, par- and be aware of how criminal law

CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIESILES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME and immigration law create the con- by Metro Toronto Police, the ers' Advocacy Group. They seemed ditions for the exploitation ofwomen Ontario Provincial Police, and the to have more background knowl- who need to earn a living. Royal Canadian Mounted Police. So edge of the social context for the Kara: The Global Alliance Against all three levels of government coor- growth of migrant sex work, and be Trafficking in Women (GAATW)has dinated their efforts to make this more supportive of sex workers and been, in principle at least, somewhat happen. There were 23 women and migrantworkers generally. However, better than CATW. GAATWW~~formed two men arrested, mainly on prosti- they didn't have the momentum to in 1994 by feminists who wanted to tution-related charges. The women keep things going. consider sex workers' perspectives came mainly from Thailand and Debi: Any group of people that and to work as allies. In actual prac- Malaysia, and had entered Canada comes together to try to develop an tice, I have seen some inability to let on tourist visas. Project Orphan was analysis of migrant sex work which go of the traffic in womenlsexual the first of an ongoing series of raids accounts for the complexities ofwhat slavery construct. They have recently and arrests. [The most recent raids is actually happening, and which at- decided to keep on using the con- that I am aware of occurred in the tempts to develop a strategy which struct of "tracking" even though summer of 2000, and were the cul- can potentially be useful for migrant they have become more critical of it mination ofa year long investigation sex workers, faces a daunting range

as they developed a more sophisti- called "ProjectAlmonzo," which tar- oftasks. You need -peoplewith - a non- cated understanding of the move- geted prositution in Toronto strip judgmental attitude toward sexwork. ment of women sex workers across clubs. Fifty-five dancerswere charged You need people who are familiar borders. They believe that, since "traf- with being inmates of a common with immigration policy, criminal ficking" has gained attention on the bawdy house, and six of them were law, and labour law. You need people international agenda, they should alleged to be in the country illegally, who are familiar with the different keep using it strategically as a means having migrated from Hungary.] So situations which women in various of bringing sex workers to the table. we can see how the targeting of mi- parts of the sex trade will be con- They believe that, once there, sex grant sex workers is being used as a fronted with. You need to be aware workers and their allies can then rationale to clamp down on prostitu- of how the political and economic work on shifting the agenda. tion generall~.~ situation in each woman's country Debi: GAATW has faced criticism Kara: When the Toronto network of origin will influence the options that, although unlike CATW it makes was first established, I wondered available to her. You have to decide a distinction between forced and where the women had come from. In whether you want to direct your voluntary prostitution, by focussing the last ten years of working in the efforts to general policy shifts, or only on forced prostitution they ac- sex trade in Toronto, I had not seen whether you want to extend your tually undermine the efforts of the or heard from them, although sex work to direct support for the ar- international prostitutes' rights move- workers have been seeking solidarity rested women, or women who po- ment for the legitimationoftheirwork, from feminists for years. It was as tentially face charges. rather than working as the allies they though there was a new group of Kara: Yes. Many people are not believe themselves to be.5 underprivileged, abused women who willing to give support to migrant Kara: In October of 1997, an in- could be swooped up and rescued. I sex workers just on the basis ofwhat formal ad hoc group called the found that to be a problem. the women's needs are. Any support Toronto Network Against Traffick- I am concerned about migrant sex is couched in a lot of moralizing and ing in Women (TNATW)was formed workers and1 understand that they're protection of their own ethics. Ifwe in response to a mass raid of massage facing all sorts of issues, some spe- want to be really helpful, we need to parlours and apartments in Toronto cific to them. I was willing to work consider how migrant sex workers the previous month. TNATW'S stated with TNATW. However, I was the are assessed and treated by Canadian purpose was to provide support and token whore on board. I provided immigration and by law enforcement advocacy for the arrested women. information, analysis, and legwork, agencies. We need to consider how The group was formed because the but found my work dismissed when this assessment and treatment is go- Global Alliance Against Trafficking we disagreed. I understand that the ing to have an impact on local sex in Women-Canada (GAATW)had sent members may come out ofa particu- workers, on migrants in other forms several representatives to Toronto to lar feminist perspective or form their of work, and on people trying to mobilize support among women's opinions of pure ignorance, but I immigrate to Canada under all clas- groups, the local Thai community, wasn't prepared to spend my time sifications. Concerns about the ex- and NGOS.. working in that environment. ploitation of migrant sex workers Debi: The raid on these businesses Another group ofwomen got to- can be used very easily to help de- was the culmination of an investiga- gether in 1998 and formed the velop or give support for regressive tion code-named "Project Orphan" Toronto Migrant Sex Trade Work- and restrictive immigration laws. One

VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2 of the things I find very disturbing- is Women who have signed contracts viduals. [The first chapter of the that very few people are putting their may want to know if there is any Exotic Dancers Alliance, was formed attention to meeting the needs of redress for contract violation. They in San Francisco in 1992.1 migrant sex workers. They're more also need a means of accessing that Kara: And then there's always the concerned about building larger information. There are some very fear that, if you do come forward analyses about how the situation of concrete barriers such as language with a complaint, it's going to be migrant sex workers is going to fit barriers, and physical barriers such as used as an excuse to enforce other into their social-political agenda. not knowing their way around the laws; inspectors and police will show That's true I thinkofa lot offeminist city. There are some psychological up to see if there is a liquor licence, organizations, of international orga- barriers involved too, such as, not and to make sure that all of the girls nizations like the United Nations, knowingwho you can trust. Is it safe are licenced and documented. and it's true of the Canadian govern-- to go? Can I really tell the truth?Can I think that the laws which pro- ment as well. I ask questions honestly without hibit working safely as a prostitute Mook: I've onlyworked withThai putting myself and perhaps my col- and the local licencing bylaws around women. What has amazed me is that leagues in jeopardy? Not only in dancing work to create a whole un- when I talkto peopleabout mywork, jeopardy from immigration and law derground arena in which sex work- I find that there are three questions enforcement around criminal activ- ers are forced to conduct their busi- that are really popular for them to ity, but in jeopardy from the man- ness. When you're working in this ask. The first thing is "were they agement, from the agent? criminal or quasi-criminal atmo- willing to come here?" The second Access to medical care is also an sphere, it often invites real criminals one is "how did they get here?" They issue. Alot ofwomen are not covered into the milieu. And because ofthese want to know if the women used a under public health insurance, and laws, sex workers don't have any false passport, and what kind oftrans- do not know that there are free com- protection under labour legislation. portation they used. The third ques- munity clinics that they can go to. Until prostitution is considered to tion is "had they done this type of And, even when they find out about be a form ofwork, and exotic danc- work before in Thailand?" When I a community health clinic, there ing is considered to be legitimate listen to thesequestions, I don't know might not be proper language inter- work, we're not going to get any why they ask them, because there's pretation or it might be culturally support from labour activists and noihing;elated to the immediate needs inappropriate in terms of the ques- we're not going to be able to change or long-term needs of the women. tions that are asked, the way they're the labour laws or to seek redress for The women want a lawyer, they want examined, and so forth. damages against us. While there is a to go- for a VD test or whatever, but Chantelle: Dancing is legal work vacuum of support for sex workers, nobody wants to know that. in Toronto, as long as you have a the government can step inwith laws Chantelle: Safe, anonymous, legal licence, but we are accorded no pro- against procuring, laws against com- advice would be top of the list for tection whatsoever. All members of mon bawdy houses, licencing provi- most women, whether they're here the Exotic Dancers Alliance have at sions in the strip clubs, thinking that because they want to be and they different times made complaints they're going to offer us protection want to figure out how to stay, or about working conditions in the when really all we need is to be want to figure out how to leave be- clubs, but have never had any mean- considered actual workers and have cause they don't have their passport ingful response. We complain about the rights- that other workers have. anymore because it's been taken away conditions like no toilet paper, and I think that immigration law is from them. Most of the women I've the toilets are all flooded and there's something that needs to be exam- talked to, especially from Eastern only two toilets for 125 women. ined as well. Why is it that women, Bloc countries, say they have ques- That is the reality that a lot of danc- particularly womenoriginatingfrom tions but they'reso afraid. They don't ers face that makes thework unpleas- certain countries, have such a hard want to get deported, or go home , ant. It isn't connected to the roman- time getting in to Canada? It is a without a certain amount of money. tic image of victims-we're victims great concern that the proposed Kara: They want legal advice cov- of no toilet paper. It isverydemoral- changes to immigration and refugee ering a variety of arenas. Women izing to have to deal with that and law make specific references to the want to know the legal status of have no one to complain to. A group trafficking bf women and children whatever form of sex work they're of women formed the Exotic Danc- for sexual purposes as part of the practising in Canada. They want to ers' Alliance several years ago so that platform for why we need to tighten know what their actual status is as a wewould have an organizational- base our borders. It seems to me a very migrant worker under immigration to express our shared interests, and deliberate ruse to garner support from law and, if they want to alter that hopefully have a greater impact than otherwise liberal thinking people for status, what routes can they take. we would simply speaking as indi- an extremely racially biased and re-

CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIESILES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME gressive immigration policy.' Campaign to Defend Immigrants ground." Information sheet, n.d. and Refugees; Stop C-63 Informa- UNESCO."Contemporary Forms of Deborah Brock teachessociologyat York tion Sheet (Toronto, 1999). Slavery: Draft Programme ofAc- University, and has been active in Doezema, Jo. "Forced to Choose: tion on the Traffic in Persons and campaigns for prostitutes' rights. Her Beyond the Voluntary v. Forced the Exploitation of the Prostitu- book, Making Work, Making Prostitution Dichotomy" Kamala tion of Others."Geneva, UNESCO Trouble: Prostitution as a Social Kempadoo and Jo Doezema, ed., document, 13 June 1995. Problem, was published by the Uni- Global Sex Workers: Rights, Resis- United Nations Press Release. versity of Toronto Press in 1998. tance, and Redefinition London: "Third Committee Hears Reports Routledge, 1998. 34-50. of Trafficking in Women and Kara GilLies is a prostitute and sex Mitchell, Bob "55 strip club dancers Children, Effects of Violence workers' rights advocate. charged" Toronto Star 17 June Against Women." 12 Oct. 1999. 2000: B3. Walkowitz, Judith. Prostitution and Chantelle Oliver is a cultural artist Murray, Alison. "Debt-Bondage and Victorian Society Cambridge: and sex worker activist who experi- Trafficking: Don't Believe the University Press, 1980. ments with emergingdigialvideo tech- Hype" Global Sex Workers:Rights, Valverde, Mariana. TheAge oflight, nologies andpopular culture to create Resistance, and Redefinition. Eds. Soap and Water:Moral Reform in accessible, fin and exciting feminist Kamala Kempadoo and Jo English Canada, 1885- 1925. theory. She has worked as a pant Doezema. London: Routledge, Toronto: McClelland and writer and find raiser for the Exotic 1998. 51-64. Stewart, 1991. Dancers 'Alliance. Toronto Network Against Traffick-

ing- in Women (TNTW)"Back- Mook Sutdhibhasilp is a researcherfor the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women, and has worked as an advo- EMMA KIMOR cate for Thai migrant sex workers.

'Campaign to Defend Immigrants In Our Land There is No Dusk and and Refugees; Stop C-63 Informa- Hardly Any Dawn tion Sheet (Toronto, 1999). 'Also see: UNESCO; United Nations Press Release. In our land 'Also see Walkowitz; Valverde. Day drops suddenly into *Also see Doezema; Murray. Night's heavy lap 5Again, see Doezema; Murray. And summer into "or more information on Project Frosty puddles ungarnished by Orphan, see The Toronto Network Golden autumn garlands. Against Trafficking in Women (TNTW)"Background' Undated in- In our land formation sheet. For more informa- Young boys drop suddenly into tion on Project Almonzo, see Bloody puddles Mitchell. And young girls into widow's tears. 'For a more detailed account of Ca- This is their first summer flower nadian immigration policy and its Sprung from a wreath over impact on women, see Arat-Koc. Two-meter-deep of snow.

References In our land Peace drops suddenly Arat-Koc, Sedef "Gender and Race Only into our dreams in "Non-Discriminatory" Immi- Then dawn and spring gration Policies, 1960 to the And smile and children Present." Scratching the Suface: Burst out blossoming Canadian Anti-Racist Feminist Into serene summer day. Thought. Eds. Enakshi Dua and Angela Robertson. Toronto: Emma Kimor is a writer living in Israel. Women's Press, 1999. 207-233. l I

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