1. Children in Prostitution Montgomery & Bales

3. Children, Prostitution, and Identity Heather Montgomery 1.The Context Where: Thailand (No city mentioned) Are the children in her study trafficked? Where do they live? Why do children engage in prostitution?

4. Montgomery’s Key Points Challenges popular characterizations of this practice?  Passive voiceless Victims Vs.  AGENCY (The crux of her argument) Agency Defined Capacity to interpret and give meaning to one’s world. Capacity to act.

5. Agency 1.Children chose prostitution.  Montgomery recognizes choice is constrained by economics. 2.Children interpreted their actions against the grain of dominant depictions of child prostitution. 2.Children interpreted their actions against the grain of dominant depictions of child prostitution.  Bolstered esteem  Highlighted positive roles/contribution to the community.

6. Because She Looks Like a Child Kevin Bales Context: Trafficking (different population than Montgomery studied) Motive for engaging in the practice:  Economic  Newly industrializing = higher wages for some.  Enduring problems of poverty (esp.. In North) pulls children into prostitution.  Children’s wages for survival and family status.  Increase in migration from Burma & Laos

7. Discussion Questions Do Montgomery and Bales differ in their perspective on children in prostitution? How so? If, you said yes, are there any points that these authors might agree upon? What might Montgomery say to Bales? How might Bales respond?