Complexity of Life and Resistance: Informal Networks of Rural Migrant Karaoke Bar Hostesses in Urban Chinese Sex Industry

This article explores the lives of rural migrant karaoke bar hostesses working in Dalian's sex industry. It both resonates with and differs from previous research that argues that migrant women's informal ties based upon localistic networks project the possibility for labour resistance. It is argued here that hostesses are subject to exploitation and violence due to hostile political policies and the organisation of the sex industry. Hostesses do form alliances based upon their native place. These provide financial and emotional support. However, these localistic networks are temporary because hostesses aspire to deflect from their "criminal" group and they also face high internal competition.