Whore mothers and daughters of bitches: dialogues about affection, care and education

Abstract

This article is to share data from a study carried out with female sex workers about their practices and dynamics of socialization, training, care and education of their sons and daughters. The theoretical framework is rooted in the field of educational studies and engages in dialogues with theoretical frameworks from Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology. The research was carried out through visits to places where sex workers carry out their work, family units and the street. The techniques used included interviews, life stories, family stories, contact with families, observation, and ethnographic construction. The results showed that the families of those sex workers, the families of Bitches, do not differ in terms of organization from other family models.  However, growing up with sex worker mothers builds individuals with diverse views and openness to the issues presented by the Sex Workers’ Movement. On the other hand, the organizational and collaborative processes of sex workers advocates a form of care based on solidarity, a network that supports each other and collective organization in the process of socialization and education of sons and daughters: the collaborative circle is an expression of how networks of affection contribute to the “run” of mothers who are also Whores.