Previously i had wrote that i was working in two organizations in Mexico City on in particular is working with elderly sex workers. I have been there for 2 and a half months now and i feel that i have gained the support and respect of all but two. There are two sex workers whom cannot stand me, they won't even reply when i greet them. I have gotten used to the idea that women like them act childish and can hate you for no logical reason. I have also been going out to the streets with a Social Worker. She has introduced me to countless ex and current prostitutes and is helping me with my thesis.
This week was especially hard, Elena (Social Worker) usually takes me to go hang out with sex workers from el Centro Historico in front of "la santisima" church but today we did not stay there very long, as are accustomed to. But Today Elena decided to show me the rings of prostitution. They are called rings because about 20-40 young girls and women circle around and form a ring while clients, pimps and body guards are surrounding them, gawking at them while they circle around to give them a better look at the "merchandise." I visited two rings in one day, and i was surprised to see that they are out in the open, where people eat, drink and buy clothes.
The first one i went to was an Alley called Manzanares in "la Merced" a place in Mexico city known for underaged prostitution. I entered alone because Elena cannot go in because the pimps know her. I was very scared when i went in but i build up the courage and told myself i will make it to the end of the alley, i will be fine. The beginning of the alley is littered with food stands and people eating but as i kept walking i began to notice a crowd of men with their backs towards me. Since I am short I couldn't see what they were observing on the opposite side. I kept walking towards them passing food, vendors and people who sell immigration brand name clothes. Then i saw it... I saw women as if they were following the leader and walking in a a circle within the crowd of me. I got closer and finally the crowd opened up to allow someone to pass by. Apparently the women circling does not prohibit people from passing through them. So i went for it, i got the courage and passed in the middle of the women, whom were all dressed extremely provocative with heels that would hurt if worn more than 2 minutes, many were beautiful, and had bodies that anyone would envy. As i walked through the women every step felt as if it could be my last, i was terrified even though i was in public. I finally made it out on the other side of the alley, and waited for Elena as we had agreed upon. As i waited, for Elena to get there, i could still see the women walking in circles within the crowd of men. The crowd had parted and I could see not only their faces but all of them. I began to look them in the face, and a few of them made contact with me and turned away. They had hollow stares that were void of happiness. I will never forget the look i received from a girl whom looked as if she were 14. We made contact for a brief 2 seconds but in those two seconds her eyes were crying out to me, they revealed that she wanted to desperately get out of there, they cried for help. And it broke my heart because i couldn't do anything to get her out of there. I couldn't go to the police because they are hired by the pimps themselves to guard the area so I cannot go to them. Elena finally arrived and i swallowed my tears and walked towards her. We ended up going to San Pablo and passing through yet another Prostitution ring but this time together, this one was less crowded by men but there were more women. This one is located in the alley of El Puente de Santo Tomas. The alley is very popular and cannot be penetrated on the weekends, I was told that it gets so packed no one can pass. In order for men to get their turn watching they have to wait. We left the alley and made our way towards San Pablo avenue. We found the head prostitute and Elena asked her to call her pimp, she got her phone and called him and passed her the phone. They spoke for a few minutes and she told him he had to meet me, he agreed and i had an meeting with him the next day. I couldn't believe how fast and easy that was, I was going to met a Pimp, I was scared shit-less.
The next day Elena and I met him in the corner where the head prostitute works and where she and other pimps are securing the place. He didn't want to speak in the street so he lead us to a coffee shop called La Madonna. I got to the point and told him that i wanted to interview the women, but knew that i couldn't without his permission. Being the lying and manipulating man that he is, he denied being a pimp and told me that the women are free to speak to me if they choose to, and that he cannot force them to speak to me. I pretended as if I knew nothing of him and did not have a prejudice. He then began to gush about his life and how he got involved in working side by side with women from prostitution not, admitting that he lives off of them. He worked side by side other sex workers and even started an organization for sex worker rights, he stated that for him its all about sex education and but the women can care less about that, they seem to want an organization that will fight for their rights instead of having an org. that educates them on how to protect themselves. His organization did not last long for this reason and others took over what he started. He always kept reminding me that he is just someone who fights for their rights, not exploits them.
Three Cappuccinos later and a couple hours he told Elena and I to follow him. He went up to the head prostitute called Gertrude and told her that i was working on an anthropological investigation on prostitution and if she and her girls wanted to speak to me, they were in their right to do so or not do so. He basically confirmed to me his power over the women and i saw the respect they have for him. It was dark and the street was littered with more men then when I initially arrived. Some were in line waiting for their favorite woman (who was busy with someone else ) to be free. Some were checking out the ones that were coming out of the hotels and others were body guards and pimps controlling the situation. I wanted nothing more than to get out of there and get home safe. Elena and I said our good byes and left, we kept an eye on the back of us to make sure that no one was following us, thankfully no one was.
