From precariousness to prostitution: Experiences of Moroccan migrant women with trafficking and sexual exploitation in agricultural settings

Abstract

Thousands of migrant women of Moroccan origin arrive in southern Spain every year to work seasonally in the agricultural sector with the commitment of returning to their country of origin once the season ends. However, many Moroccan women do not return to their country of origin in search of better living conditions. By remaining in Spain irregularly, without living or working permits, women end up living in isolated settlements and precarious housing, increasing their risk of being trafficked. The objective of this study was to describe the experiences of Moroccan migrant women who worked as seasonal workers in the settlements of Huelva and Almeria, in situations of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Between 2023 and 2024, we interviewed 26 Moroccan women living in rural settlements in Almeria, who arrived in Huelva to work in the agricultural sector seasonally, and who suffered sexual violence or human trafficking. During a phenomenologically-informed interpretive analysis of the data, three themes were identified: Being a Moroccan woman in an agricultural context: exploitation, precariousness, and abuse; From precariousness to slavery: drivers of sex trafficking; and the destructive consequences of abuse and human trafficking on women's health and wellbeing. The results of this study show how the situation of social vulnerability of migrant women exposed them to situations of sexual abuse and exploitation, which damage their physical and mental health. This study highlights the urgent need for public institutions to implement preventive strategies and for migration policies to be reformed in order to safeguard the welfare of these women.