Paper short abstract:

The paper explores sex workers' strategies to cope with the spatial insecurity present in Tijuana's red light district despite the adverse impact of extra-legal practices of local law enforcement agencies and criminal justice institutions.

Paper long abstract:

The paper explores sex workers' professional identities in the U.S.-Mexican border city of Tijuana. The space, criss-crossed by sex workers, and appropriated for their own benefit, is characterized by the dynamics of migration, poverty, and deprivation on the one hand, but on the other hand by extra-legal practices of local law enforcement agencies and criminal justice institutions. Despite that, women have developed strategies to cope with the spatial insecurity present in this particular border space, which I will describe and interpret. The history of professionalisation of sex work in Tijuana has contributed to new understandings of sex work and sex workers' identities. I argue that sex workers in the border space are in a liminal state, remaining disengaged from social relationships in this environment because it is not conducive to their aspirations for a better life. Their focus is on the future, which they hope will be one of well-being, consumerism, economic security and social advancement.