I live in a place where the people struggle to find their own identity between what the past and present dominant cultures tell them they should be. I live in a place where people are commodities, and it has been that way for centuries. Here, there is a new-age slavery "bend over, touch your toes, show your teeth, lift her titties, exam his balls- damn near sounds like a (dance hall) song, but it's slavery at it's peak".
I live in a place where women are the hardest working and least respected. Where sexual harassment is so ingrained in the culture that most people don't even understand the reason for or the consequences of their words and actions. I live in a place where sexuality, for girls, often is not discovered but rather forced on them.
I live in a place that is not safe for women.
I live in a beautiful place, palm trees and sea. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful people- bodies, mind and soul. Vibrancy and pulse trying to break through the sound of the pre-recorded "caribbean" music playing for tourists coming off ships and planes to discover this exotic land where they have "no problems". I live in a place that those tourists will not see, because they don't hear my girls singing so loud and on a key all their own, because they don't see the tears streaming from Aunt P's eyes as she laughs at every situation because "so it go".
I live in place where the people are commodities, take a picture of them, talk to them like they are a fascinating part of this "exotic" culture, try to convert them to your religion, let them play with your "good" hair, but don't listen to their journey and absolutely don't try to see yourself in them because that would be too real. Then you might have to feel something, do something...
I live in this place. Where do you live?
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Thanks Sharese. That really struck a cord with me. The place I live in is not my native country. Is sounds remarkably similar, though I'm quite sure we're at opposites sides of the world.
Modern forms of slavery abound. Women leave their home countries, families and children, to work tirelessly, thanklessly and isolated in the homes of those who can afford a mere $300 per month. Some don't get a single day off in the entire year, and campaigners see employers allowing one day off a month as the most promising yet realistic goal for the near future.
Woman from the region are more exoticised perhaps even more so than the cultures they belong to. In fact they are so exoticised and othered that foreign men's sexual use of them "doesn't count" in the big picture of their lives. If these foreign men as visitors or workers to the region have a partner back home, it's not cheating when done with "these" women, according to many a story I've heard.
That's not to say the pictures much brighter where I call home, but as an outsider I'm acutely aware of the problems faced by women in this place that I live. Thanks for sharing.
Obviously, the solution to this problem is not to cease touring countries that happen to have a sex trade... tourism dollars are incredibly important to many economies and yanking that away would not be an acceptable means of protest as it would only further hurt the people who are vulnerable.
Is there a progressive human-rights oriented tourism company out there that will arrange getaways for privileged people that will help support struggling businesses that do not engage in exploitative practices and tell them places to avoid because they do have exploitative practices (even if it's "behind the scenes")?
If not, maybe someone needs to start one? There would be a lot of pitfalls and details to be ironed out, but I see no reason why it couldn't be done.
There's a UK organization called Tourism Concern that does something similar to what you've mentioned. TC has a list of "ethical tour operators" with whom they are affiliates, although there may be a conflict of interest here.
They're out there if you look for them: a quick perusal yields this and this. Do note i have no personal experience with any of these groups, and in my experience tracking chains of exploitation in developing countries is pretty damn difficult. Any "list" you may find is bound to be out-of-date or inaccurate.
I live in a home where I am respected in every way by my husband. I was raised by a strong woman who has supported me in whatever I want to do or believe. I work in place that is 90-95% staffed by women and the management is 5 women, 2 men. I have several Bush-loving conservative male friends but they are respectful, loving, supportive husbands and boyfriends to their fabulous women.
In my immediate world, life is great. But for those that don't have the life I do, I will speak up and do the best I can to make change it for the better.
Your article was very interesting. I like to see how people view things threw their own eyes. Then you read it and try to relate. Once you do find something to relate it to then you are like wow that really is how it is. Which makes it sad to think that women are treated like this on an everyday basis.
Thank you. It was a beautifully written post.
beautiful