Marshall Poe
Marshall Poe
Sara Luna, "Love in the Drug War: Selling Sex and Finding Jesus on the Mexico-US Border" (U Texas Press, 2020)
Sara Luna, "Love in the Drug War: Selling Sex and Finding Jesus on the Mexico-US Border" (U Texas Press, 2020)
Sara Luna, "Love in the Drug War: Selling Sex and Finding Jesus on the Mexico-US Border" (U Texas Press, 2020)
Friday 23rd October 2020
Sarah Luna explores the lives of sex workers and missionaries in Reynosa during intense drug violence on 'New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery'.
41 minutes
Informative
Thought-provoking
Engaging
Raw
Non-judgmental
About this podcast
Author:
Marshall Poe
Overview:
Categories:
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
Relationships & Community
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Get the buttons here!The Complex Lives of Migrants: Love, Sex, and Faith on the Mexico-US Border
Using the concept of obligar, she delves into the connections that define the lives of women who moved from rural Mexico to Reynosa to become sex workers and American missionaries who moved from the United States to forge a fellowship with those workers.
What happens when sex, drugs, and religion intersect in one of the most dangerous places on the Mexico-US border? In this episode of 'New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery', host Marshall Poe sits down with Sarah Luna to discuss her eye-opening book, 'Love in the Drug War: Selling Sex and Finding Jesus on the Mexico-US Border'.
Luna’s research takes us deep into la zona, a regulated prostitution area in Reynosa, where she spent 2008 and 2009 building relationships with two very different groups: Mexican women who became sex workers and American missionaries who came to support them. Luna's exploration is far from straightforward. She introduces us to the concept of obligar, which describes the complex web of obligations that bind sex workers to their families, clients, pimps, missionaries, and even drug dealers.
It's a world where faith offers both guilt and comfort, and where intimate and financial entanglements shape every aspect of life. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, from the gendered nature of moral economies to the stigma surrounding sex work versus drug trade. Luna delves into the relationships and intimacy within la zona, highlighting polyamorous dynamics and family ties that defy conventional norms.
She also touches on the use of memoirs by sex workers, offering insights into their personal narratives and the audiences they aim to reach. If you’re curious about the human stories behind the headlines of the Mexico-US border crisis, this episode is a must-listen. Luna’s raw and non-judgmental approach provides a nuanced understanding of a world that is often misunderstood.
Whether you're interested in sociology, anthropology, or just want to hear compelling human stories, this episode offers a gripping look into the lives of those living on the edge.