Description
Book SynopsisHaving spent nearly a decade following the lives of formerly trafficked men and women, Denise Brennan recounts in close detail their flight from their abusers and their courageous efforts to rebuild their lives.
Life Interrupted is a riveting account of life in and after trafficking and a forceful call for meaningful immigration and labor reform.
Trade Review“Steering clear of lurid depictions of sexual slavery, Brennan has written a serious yet readable account of trafficking in the United States.” -- Karunesh Tuli * Foreword Reviews *
“
Life Interrupted is a must-read for those seeking to understand why immigration policies, US and otherwise, can prolong human misery. Bluntly confronting the risks and dangers all immigrants face when they must leave their homes in search of better lives, this admirable book is a major contribution to productive ways to rethink global immigration.” -- Lee Maril * Times Higher Education *
"The very real people portrayed in
Life Interrupted do shine brightly; their stories make it personal for us, the readers. We're reminded that these individuals are certainly not forgotten in the eyes of God, as much as we might long to stay unaware of them." -- D.L. Mayfield * Books & Culture *
“[A] concise yet comprehensive account of trafficking in the US. . . . Bluntly confronting the risks and dangers all immigrants face when they must leave their homes in search of better lives, this admirable book is a major contribution to productive ways to rethink global immigration. Whether it is Mexican agricultural workers risking their lives by crossing a desert to find work, or Egyptians and Pakistanis crossing the Mediterranean in fragile boats, their lives dependent on rescue at sea by the Italian navy, suffering is omnipresent. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.” -- W. T. Howard * Choice *
"Whereas the term 'trafficking' is often assumed to mean sex trafficking, Brennan is concerned with the larger picture of trafficking into forced labor of all kinds—e.g., domestic, construction, agriculture or other low-wage jobs. She writes not of headline-making dramatic rescues but of the day-to-day lives of the formerly trafficked, those trying to rebuild their lives in the U.S. and make it their home. . . . A tough-to-read exposé of trafficking and its effects and an urgent call for changes in federal immigration policy and ineffectual labor laws." * Kirkus Reviews *
“This book should appeal to anyone who wants to learn more about the devastating and long-lasting impact of human trafficking at both the global and individual/familial level from those who lived it, as well as the effectiveness of current immigration policies. . . . It is particularly valuable to those who (like me) work in service-providing professions that may encounter this vulnerable, yet resilient, population. I recommend it highly.” -- Stacie Dubay * Monthly Labor Review *
“One of the most important sections of Brennan's book includes suggestions for action and ways to become involved in improving the lives of trafficked persons. . . . She demonstrates that a commitment to each individual is what it takes to help trafficked persons transcend poverty. These important findings are the result of studying real people who have left extreme situations, and assessing which factors made the difference between moving ahead or struggling forever.” -- Melissa Ditmore * Women's Review of Books *
“[B]ringing rich ethnographic detail and compelling stories from survivors of trafficking, case workers, advocates, and others. She eschews any grand theoretical gestures in favor of rigorous but readable prose and has crafted a book that is at once a major academic contribution for specialists and also a text that should be required reading for public health workers, policymakers, NGO administrators, and undergraduate or graduate students interested in the practical applications of anthropology.” -- Gregory Mitchell * Medical Anthropology Quarterly *
“
Life Interrupted is an important book. Intensely researched and accessibly written, this ethnographically rich work is recommended for anyone concerned about human trafficking. Brennan masterfully connects the plight of victims of forced labor to larger questions about U.S. labor practices and immigration policies.” -- Amy Farrell * American Journal of Sociology *
"
Life interrupted will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand how the dark side of globalization plays out in the United States.... It is a very readable, powerful, and important book that deserves widespread attention." -- Steve Striffler * Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute *
"
Life Interrupted is a highly engaging book that will be of great interest to anyone interested in forced labor and human trafficking." -- Sverre Molland * International Migration Review *
"Denise Brennan’s in situ empirical study of a well-defined, accurately counted, richly engaged subset of the principals in the human trafficking drama is a welcome addition to a growing body of knowledge that uses rigorous research to study a population that has been wrongly identified as 'unresearchable.'" -- Anthony Marcus * American Anthropologist *
“Human trafficking and immigration scholars will find this well-researched book a useful addition to their libraries. Those interested in the effects of policy on efforts to assist trafficked persons and exploited workers, in post-trafficking experiences, or in post-trafficking service provision will find the book particularly valuable. This rich, compelling account of individuals rebuilding their lives after exploitation is affecting and succeeds in revealing a continuum of labor exploitation along which many workers in the U.S. fall.” -- Sandra C. Arch * Work and Occupations *
“
Life Interrupted will be of particular interest to those seeking an ethnographic perspective on the nuances and complexities of being officially classified as a victim of trafficking in the United States. ... Denise Brennan stages a powerful ethnographic critique of the idea that the anti-trafficking rubric and legal regime actually protect victims of trafficking.” -- Svati P. Shah * New Labor Forum *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix
Introduction. Starting Over 1
Part I. The Assault on Workers 35
1. Dangerous Labor: Migrant Workers and Sex Workers 37
2. Chains of Fear: The Subjectivity of Coercion 75
Part II. Life after Forced Labor 113
3. Imagining the Possible: Creating Home 115
4. Living the Possible: Settling into Home 145
5. Laboring after Forced Labor 163
Closing Comments 185
Appendix. Ideas and Resources for Action 193
Notes 199
References 243
Index 273
