Lydia's Open Door: Inside Mexico's Most Modern Brothel

by Patty Kelly

In this groundbreaking ethnographic study, Patty Kelly examines the lives of the women who work in the Zona Galactica, a state-run brothel in Chiapas's capital city. By delving into lives that would otherwise go unremarked, Kelly documents the modernization of the sex industry during the neoliberal era in the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez and illustrates how state-regulated sex became part of a broader effort by government officials to bring modernity to Chiapas, one of Mexico's poorest and most conflicted states. Kelly's innovative approach locates prostitution in a political-economic context by treating it as work. Most valuably, she conveys her analysis through vivid portraits of the lives of the sex workers themselves and shows how the women involved are neither victims nor heroines.

Genres: Anthropology, Ethnography, School, Nonfiction, History, Academic

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with Kelly's work. While I do give her credit for situating her discussion of sexuality in Tuxtla historically, politically, and economically...her analysis is lacking. She uses a Foucauldian power/resistance framework without really talking about resistance (cringe)--which I understand is covert, but she should at least preface this in her discussion of the theory. To have no mention at all of the complex interplay of these two theoretical constructs constantly contesting and reinforcing each other is ridiculous. Additionally (and more importantly), she also uses stigma as a guiding framework without discussing what it means to use stigma as a theoretical lens! how can you do that!! She briefly discusses stigma theory at the end, for maybe a 2 paragraphs. I was incredibly disappointed with the lack of theory (and thus depth) in her analysis.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelly produced an indispensable ethnography that offers insights into the discourse over legalization and decriminalization of sex work, focusing on the legalized brothels of Mexico she exposes the ways that the state continues to criminalize sex workers who operate outside of its reach while reinforcing abusive structures within spaces where sex work is allowed.

Though Kelly remains largely ignorant of transgender people and how the reality of transness and trans sex workers might impact her theories, what conclusions she does come to are sound and would likely not change with the added nuance to her reasoning. The reason I highlight this is because I feel her arguments might have been strengthened had she taken a little more time to better understand who she called Transvestis sex workers.

highly recommended read, general caution if cis-ignorance offends you.

[Vicky Ojeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

very well written, interesting experiment by one mexican government's attempt at regulating sex work.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

eye opening

[Saul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worthwhile account of legal prostitution in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Kelly gives useful socioeconomic background to inform an understanding of why women choose to work in the "Galactic Zone" (though no good explanation of that name...) and how their work affects their social lives outside of the zone. If you want to understand sex work from a non-US context this is worth reading. Same goes for those of you who are trying to get a sense of how free trade policies affect poor people; in this case, NAFTA's effect on poor and migrant women in southern Mexico.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a non-academic reader, I found this book too be a little too cursory in the exploration of each component in Mexico's legal prostitution industry. I would have preferred more detail about the clients, prostitutes, or industry as opposed to a little about each, however; I am certain this was a disseration turned into a book and, as such, the author was asked to focus on all of the disparate pieces of puzzle instead of just one or two.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for a class next semester. Interesting look at marginalized women and how they turn to 'legal' prostitution in Mexico at the Zona Galactica to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

[Ashley Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written for an ethnography, modern yet sticks to the backbone principals of Anthropology work. The book was interesting, yet I thought there was too much of the authors personal opinion in it.

[Michael Andersen-Andrade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating study of sex workers in a government run brothel in southern Mexico.

[Leeann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hard subject- a well written and interesting book about a brothel and the social context.