The narrative equating sex work with human trafficking is finally changing. But from 2010 to 2016, 76% of US print media perpetuated the Superbowl trafficking myth. One story, headlined ‘The Super Bowl is the largest human trafficking event in the country’, claimed ‘over 10,000 “prostitutes”—many of whom were trafficking victims—were brought into Miami for the Super Bowl in 2010’
The headlines used to be quite salacious around sex work and the Superbowl, the US's largest sporting event. They would warn of an uptick in human trafficking, quoting dubious numbers like "10,000 to 100,000 pr*stitutes" would descend on the host city. I know a lot of providers travel to work during the Superbowl but... 10k? I don't think so. Tryst shows only 1,236 providers to be in Vegas today. Of course other sites also exist but Tryst is by far the most popular SW website.
Sheriffs would hold self righteous press conferences, proudly stating the number of "victims" arrested by their proud calvary. Every year, federal and state law enforcement would gather in the host city and arrest as many sex workers as humanly possible.
This led me to usually avoid working on or around the Superbowl. Just not worth it.
If you Google "sex trafficking Superbowl" you'll notice the shifting narrative. Soon, the law enforcement community won't be able to justify these yearly SW round ups because several recent studies show no causal relationship between sex trafficking and the Superbowl. Yes, you'll definitely notice an uptick in advertising in the host city (Vegas) in the days before the event. But *shock horror* these women are willing participants in sex... For economic reward!
Shocking, I know, that some women choose to economically benefit from their relationships with men. It's definitely not a tale as old as time.
These Superbowl raids are about controlling women and their bodies/sexuality. As are all anti-SW laws. When women step out from the narrow confines of conservative heternormative monogamy, they're punished. Blame it on the Puritans.
The West, however, was founded and funded by sex workers (brothel owners were all women and played a large part in funding prospectors). Brothels were the community and economic touchstones. But that's a story for another time. Sex workers are and have always been contributing actors advancing our great country.