A visit with a sex worker

Probably the most interesting discussion we have had was the one we had with a sex worker. I don't know that I have knowingly engaged in a conversation with a woman who makes her living this way, but we did on Thursday. Prostitution has been legal in Quito since the 1920s, and it has been regulated for many years. Under current laws, a person must be associated with a legalized brothel and must undergo health screenings every month. If the person tests positive for STIs or other issues their license is revoked, and they receive 50 free condoms a month. Current charges are about $13 for ten minutes and up to 4 different positions, and the worker receives $10 and s/he pays $3 to the brothel. When the woman arrived, she was dressed as any ordinary woman - jeans, a nice top, regular shoes, no excessive make-up. One of the rules of her trade is that they must look like regular women, especially if their brothel (hotel) is near a school. They rarely have tourists as clients (she has only ever had 4, and she did tell some funny stories about them), as most of her clients are locals. When asked how she found herself in this situation, she said that she fell in love with a Ecuadorean (she is Colombian) who promised her great things in Quito. Within a week he had her working the streets with the promise that she would not have to do it for long. Eventually she realized she had been taken advantage of, but she stayed with him for ten years and bore two children. She was able to break away from him, but not from the life on the streets. It was the only way she could support her children. Some days she has 4 clients, but the day we met her she had had none. I suspect some days she has more than 4, but she did say it was a good day when she had 4. When asked about her children, the emotions overcame her. Her son is now in his 20s, educated, and very good to her. She says he has become the "caballero" she had always wanted to marry. Her daughter is graduating this year and wants to become a guide.v The children's mission is to get their mother "off the streets," into a home, and able to care for herself. She talked about the time her daughter had a little tiff with another girl, and the girl said something similar to, "You are awfully high and mighty for being the daughter of a prostitute." That, of course, opened the conversation for the woman to talk about her life. She moved the children to a private school (how she afforded that is impossible to understand), and they have grown up to be very fine people. She did say that most of the women who are in the same profession do it for their children, and she indicated that very few of the women had addiction problems. The courage, bravery, and stamina of this woman impressed me beyond belief. She is not proud of what she does, but her intentions are as pure as gold. The importance of listening to each other and their stories is what makes the world a better place, and Don and I are grateful we had a chance to heard "the rest of the story." Our prayers go out to this woman and all others in her position.