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Assignment 10

In “Between Love and Money: Sex, Tourism, and Citizenship in Cuba and the Dominican Republic” Amelia Cabezas defines “sexual citizenship” as the relationship between citizens and sexual labor. Cabezas focuses on “sex tourism,” or the practices of sex workers who are dependent on their labor and the wages that are earned from their sexual services. This form of prostitution is seen as deviant behavior, of course, and considered of lesser value or importance to society. Of course there is gender inequality in sex work because men are given more sexual freedom and authority than woman. Outside of prostitution, women are demonized for being sexually active, called promiscuous, while it is acceptable for men to have multiple sex partners and engage in prostitution. Ironically, a majority of sex workers are women serving the needs of men (instead of male prostitutes serving the needs of female clients. In the DR and Cuba, anything outside the heteronormative patriarchy is considered wrong and demonized by society (including sexually deviant women, prostitution, homosexuality, etc.). In the DR and Cuba, sexual minorities of any kind are treated as lesser members of society. Latin American countries are typically very religious (Catholic) with an importance and emphasis on family – sexual practices that exist outside the purpose of producing children or maintaining the family are seen as immoral, wrong and those individuals will be ostracized by society. But, sex tourism and the practices of these sexual workers is accepted when it is seen as loving and romantic. Many people who engage in sexual tourism are seen as participating in mutually beneficial romantic relationships – where the tourists receive companionship and sexual services from the citizens in the DR and Cuba and the citizens receive financial benefit and economic support from the tourists. Considering some of these women are single mothers with children to support, it is understandable that they would seek this type of companionship to provide for themselves and their families.