Peru: Cost of Sex

[Jim Beaux]

Follow the link below and you'll find a video report of a recent beating of a TG sex worker and client by vigilantes in Tarapoto, Peru. The video has been subtitled in English, and you get an interview with the vigilantes. The article covers feedback from local activist groups, who claim that prostitution is not illegal in Peru, amongst other things.

I have nothing to add on the facts, or the rights and wrongs of the situation.

Tarapoto is the largest city in the region of San Martin, about an hour north of Lima by plane. It is a commercial, educational and tourist centre, and it's airport is the 3rd busiest in Peru.

In the video the agreed price for sex is 5 soles. That's about 1 US dollar and 50 cents. I've looked up another site for average income. In 2007 in Peru the average income per head was just under 1,000 soles per month. ($340).

To reach this average, the worker would need 200 tricks per month. Allowing Sunday's off, that's something like 8 per day.

Take your pick whether that or a beating and humiliation is the cost of sex in Peru.

Article with video and activist response at http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2009/01/peru-news-cameras-capture-inhuman.html

[maggiegee]

Thanks Jim for this report from Peru.

I was in Peru for several months a couple of years ago.
While there I did notice that I didn't see many transwomen,
but then again that wasn't my purpose for being there.

I have been to many countries in the world, and much like
other of those countries I was struck by how so many live
in abject poverty, and others live in abundance and affluence.

Thus it comes as no great surprise what an often marginalized
segment of society such as transwomen must do to survive.

[Jim Beaux]

marginalized

I'd spell it differently, but that's precisely it, marginalised people in our community.