Stories of sex workers in Córdoba: how they live and what they would like to change

On June 2, International Sex Workers Day was commemorated with the goal of better respecting their work and improving the quality of life of those who practice it.

Three women working in Córdoba tell how they live, why they came to this job and what they would like to change in the future.

"I dream to go back to Bell City and forget everything"

Cecilia is a 61 year old transbadual woman and her story makes anyone who listens to her, for the cruelty she's experienced.

In his childhood, in the 1960s, he had already felt that his gender identity was different from biological identity. But at that time, you could not talk about it, let alone in a small town like Bell City. "In my house, I suffered a lot of violence, I ended up raising my grandmother, but I went through a lot of houses, I could not even go to the house. School, it was hell, "she says through tears.

"Later, they took me to the south, where I did my military service shortly before the Falklands War. There, in the Zapala artillery group 181, I was I have suffered violations and all kinds of harbadment, many beatings, the bosses came back drunk from cabarets and did everything for me, I cut my arms to go to a hospital and felt safe, " he explains in dialogue with this media.

After being taken to Buenos Aires, she came to live in Córdoba: "Here I started to prostitute myself and it was very difficult at the time of the soldiers, they arrested us, they beat us. "I spent whole days in the D2 without knowing what day it was because of the beatings they had given me, and when democracy came I felt a little relieved," he added. he.

However, the persecution did not end for Cecilia, who continued to be persecuted by the police for complying with Article 45 of the Code of Fault, already repealed. Years later, she had a heart attack and four years ago she was diagnosed with a cancer of the mouth for which she had already been operated on seven times. He receives an invalidity pension of five thousand pesos which guarantees the payment of rent and another pension of two thousand pesos for a "Plan Eat", intended for people suffering from oncological diseases, among others.

"Even so, it does not happen to me and I'm still working, I do not want it anymore, the doctors ask me to take care of my health, but I do not have any other," he says.

"I dream of going home and forgetting the backpack I have behind me, forget about it," he says.

"We must build new forms of affectivity"

Meli is 28 years old and has been a bad worker since the age of 19. Her mode is to work with social networks and, as a result, she feels "privileged" in the sector because conditions and pay are better.

She has worked in San Juan, Mendoza, Buenos Aires and Córdoba, where she says the persecution of female workers is minor. "Here, the recognition is greater and we owe it to the task of visibility made by Ammar," he said.

Her routine begins between 9 and 10 am and she updates her profiles on Instagram, on Facebook and on other pages throughout the day, where she receives her two or three services a week, whether with women, men or women. with non-binary identities.

She studies to become a barwoman, studies theater and reaffirms that bad work is her choice. "Even in this case, I think the treatment is still discriminatory, harbading and clandestine," he said. He added: "I would like the culture of baduality to change, to be seen from another perspective, to be appreciated and appreciated, and not to be seen from the outside." moral point of view ".

When asked if she has a partner, Meli explains: "I have connections with several people and I prioritize some of them.Now I'm with a piba.I think we need to build new forms of affectivity. "Also ensures that their links know what their work is doing, as well as their family members, although the latter is hard to say.

Meli says that she has never experienced situations of violence with clients and that she is not afraid because she has links with other companies with whom she is involved. stay in touch to use in case of problems or to share information on dangerous profiles.

"Some of my clients just want to talk and let off steam, that's part of our job, and for us, bad work is work that needs to be recognized as such," he said.

"I want to be able to tell my children what work"

Juliana (fictitious name) is 44 years old and works 20 years ago in the same corner of the Cañada. None of her seven children know what she's doing and she dreams that someday, bad workers will be less discriminated against, to tell them how she lives her day-to-day life.

"Although I do not recommend this task to anyone, I recognize that I have raised my children perfectly with that, I could be a good mother, I was present of what I have best and always congratulated by the doctors and teachers for my children's performance, "she says with pride, and more when she refers to one of her children, who has almost completed her studies. another who is the primary flag bearer. "I sold my tights to buy coats and notebooks," she says enthusiastically.

She started being a bad worker at the age of 24. When she lost her previous job, she was separated and had two children: "I did not find any options and because of hunger and despair, I started going out. At first, it was difficult, but later I got used to it. "

In this sense, Juliana values ​​the work of Ammar, because it offers workshops to get out of the street with other compañeras. However, because of her level of spending, this is still not an option for her, who continues to "go out" and combines them with other jobs in family homes.

"I have always been very correct, I do not consume drugs, I do not smoke, I do not drink, and I have well educated my boys.I have always worked during the day and I took care of my clothes for my children – that, thankfully, they never saw me – the people from the neighboring buildings know me and have always helped me.When it was cold, they m '39 have brought a coffee or bags with clothes, fortunately they have not disrespected me, "he adds.

"I support the demands for retirement and social work because over time, the body gives you nothing, it's sad to see women who have to continue on the street at 60 or 65," he says. .