5 Assignment 10

Amelia Cabezas details sexual citizenship as the status of Caribbean women struggling with the controversial field of sex tourism and its scrutiny under Caribbean governments. Cabezas uses the cuban government as a primary example of how governments intervened to “purify” their respective cultures in order to better their images, by labeling women who’s occupations lay outside the heteronormative standards of their society as dangerous criminals that ought to be subjected to rehabilitation. This allowed the government to incarcerate women for crimes against social morality, which leaves a lot of room for interpretation as well as corruption and unfair treatment to the institutionalized – even though prostitution is entirely legal in such areas. This puts the civil rights of the sexual citizen into jeopardy, all the while reinforcing the governments authority under the guise of aiding these women to become better citizens and people in general. The “promise” of saving women from allegedly heinous relations with tourists is met with conflict from women who under impoverished conditions are forced to sell their services to support their children and lifestyles. With no other method of survival, the promise of bettering oneself according to heteronormative structures leaves these women empty handed and at risk of being taken advantage of by men in higher positions, such as corrupt police officers that Cabezas accounts of having raped and robbed women arrested for being with tourists. Thus, the political inclination of the cuban government puts many women in unfavorable positions, listing them as sexual deviants for taking actions that would be applauded for had they been done by a man. Sexual citizenry serves only to profile and deprecate women that do not comply with the social norm that is heterosexual male dominance, all for the economic interest and benefit that mass tourism brings to places like the Caribbean.

Since the early days, sex was always tied with economics.  For over many centuries, the sexual labour of women have been assimilated into the norms of economic and politics.

For women who occupy positions outside the heteronormativity, it was more difficult for them to live a normal lifestyle.  They were harassed and incarcerated for trivial matters. We also see a double standard in males and females when it comes to the sexuality.  Women were looked down upon or often seen as bad sexual subjects whereas male promiscuity is widely tolerated, or celebrated because of the “natural sexual inclination” males have.   Women have been the one to blame for prostitution, being seen as having no morals or lacking social values.  In the case of sex tourism, spokespeople often say that tourism is not the blame, instead it is the women to blame for their poor values. This idea about prostitution is flawed in many ways because prostitution wouldn’t be a thing if there weren’t people who actually wanted to be apart of it and seek it.  Also, prostitution is far more than just a moral issue. The economy in such countries with less restrictions on prostitution may have less job opportunities for women, causing them to rely on work such as being sex workers.

This shows how sex ties into economics. Although there can be some romantics encounters with the prostitution, it still is related with profiting of sexual labour. Also many women are looked down upon for being prostitutes because of their lack or morals or greediness, however, we also need to look into the jobs that are offered to women.  In most developing countries, jobs are very rare for women, especially poor women.  This may lead them into seeking jobs such as sexual labour just to make ends meet or suffice for their family/kids.

In “Between Love and Money: Sex, Tourism, and Citizenship in Cuba and the Dominican Republic” Amelia Cabezas discusses the concepts and deeper roots that have to do with the act of sex. In this case, she connects it to third world countries. She discusses the four S’s – sun, sand, sea, and sex. These four S’s are meant to create economic growth, as they attract international tourism. Soon enough, many studies have found that a large number of hosts and guests were being involved in sexual relationships, which explains the definition of the term sex tourism. Cabezas focuses on the benefits that sex brought about for individuals, especially women who look for advantages. These countries suffer from a lack of economic growth and political issues and, with time, sex labor became an accepted aspect of daily life. The growth of sex workers grew, people arrived at these countries in order to receive this special treatment. Besides the money, women also wanted opportunities and offers from men, such as emotional growth that could lead to marriage. It was a tactic that they adapted in order to strengthen their chances of a better life; an escape from their struggles and unfair exposure to the economic and social struggles of life in countries like DR and Cuba. Evidently, there was also inequality between female and male sex workers, as women are more likely to be judged or challenged by others because of their promiscuity. Men, on the other hand, have the advantage, as they are already seen as superior in society and do not have to be concerned with the discrimination or judgment on the same level as women. Ultimately, this idea of sex tourism is more than just an activity, but rather a socially accepted behavior. It is an act that is intertwined with romance, travel, marriage, and leisure, rather than just money.

In her “Between Love and Money: Sex, Tourism, and Citizenship in Cuba and the Dominican”, Amelia Cabezas explores sex tourism to deeply study the relationships, political and economic opportunities that the interaction between foreigners and locals propose. Sex tourism refers to both national and international travel purposely done for sexual activity or intimacy with natives of the land. Cabezas focuses on the international travel due to its prominence and roles that it plays in shaping a country’s social, political, and economic life. This focus includes third world countries, such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic, in which colonization may have affected in the past. Due to corruption, poor living conditions, and anarchism in those countries, the economy becomes very unstable and the dependence on foreign investments and currency becomes the driving force in economy of such countries. According to the article, this sector of the economy has surpassed other professions due to the opportunities that it provides the locals with. Incoming foreigners offer the locals many benefits such as income, materials, migration assistance, and in some cases even marriage. Although there are many social and economic benefits from sex tourism, a lot of problems also arise from it. Such conflicts concern the division of labor based on gender, class, and background, these issues mainly fall between natives causing a stigma on women labor. When a woman engages in sexual activity and sexual autonomy, she is a deviant that violates social and moral conduct. But on the other hand, when a man does it, his labor is praised and seen as a boost to the national economy and his sexual activity is justified as a natural male urge of sex. It is not only the women who are oppressed by the heteronormativity, it is also other minority groups such as palestinos, pingueros, and jineteros who face harassment by local authorities. I think that this is what Cabezas is referring to by “sexual citizenship”, it is the sexual identities that these workers hold.

In the past, there was a period that industrialization started and they needed more natural resources and labors. European colonizers started to invade other countries to achieve sexual conquest and exploitation. Caribbean region was colonized by the European countries. Cuban was one of the countries that colonized by Europeans. Since women was considered as properties during this period, sex was part of the economic and social process, so women was trafficking, and used for breeding of slaves, and hiring of the wet nurses to the use of concubine and prostitute (pg 988). Because of this colonization, world started globalization. Because of this globalization, it affects the definition of sex. Globalization developed sexual acts and identities. Since women was supposed to work, the only working force they had was their body, so women became prostitute and solt their body to earn money. According to Amelia Cabezas, sexual citizenship is a kind of relationship at the sex tourism. This term is saying that people who are offering the sexual acts have complete control of sexual right. She differentiate between sexual worker and people who are out of category, saying that society considered sexual worker as forced to offer sex, which caused by economic status or color of skin or gender, and looked down on them. People having sexual relationship with tourists because it earn better wages than other normal jobs. Things shown from people, particular for women who occupy positions outside “heteronormativity”, promises that come to these relationships are economic supports or ending this for better opportunity. Amelia Cabezas brought many examples to such as interviews. One of the example is the interview of Yolanda. She was a tourist, and as she worked in the area, she had meaningful relationship with tourists and eventually it returned to help to support her family.

In “Between Love and Money: Sex, Tourism, and Citizenship in Cuba and the Dominican Republic” Amelia Cabezas observes the act of having sex and all that is attached to it, more specifically in third world countries. Throughout history, the act of having sex changed. In earlier times sex was only correlated to reproduction. Of course, this thought has become more outdated today. However we can still recognize the stigmas that are attached to having sex. And by doing so, we can then break them down.

Cabezas discusses that sex has become a beneficial service to women in D.R. Sex labor was about more than the money it brought. Sex became a service (often taken place in resorts) that women used to gain opportunities that they would have had otherwise.  Cabezas explains that sex tourism allows women to navigate to a better life. It increases their chances to migrate. Money was not the only direct thing sex workers cared about. Sex can be exchanged for materials or offers. This was actually more preferred because it meant that the materials came with an emotional attachment, which would further the chances of a marriage proposal. Therefore the popular notion that people prostitutes themselves for money, is evidently a false conception. Sex tourism was more than the wages but more so the plausibility of life outside of their country, so they can flee from the economical and social disadvantages they suffered. Cabezas also talks about the double standard of sex that is presented in other countries. Men have an upper advantage in society. Male sex workers are less judged than female sex workers. Females are more likely to be challenged from authorities.

Sex is still heavily connected to ideas of marriage, procreation, and monogamous relationships. Third world countries like Cuba and Dominican Republic challenge this idea. It emphasized the more complex politics that is imbued in the act of having sex.

The author makes it clear that the sexual labor of woman has been a part of normalcy for political and economic framework around the world for years on end. She focuses on the countries Dominican Republic, and Cuba which are filled with poverty, and sex was a way to create economic growth. Men as well as women end up moving to tourist areas to make a decent living by approaching foreigners and practicing sexual activities. For examples, domestic services and prostitution typically “shape” the sexual labor formation through the use of sexuality. A typical woman that works with tourists on a sexual level are young single mothers providing for her children as well as other family members.

Sex work which is considered to be traveling with the purpose of paying for some kind of sexual services to be done can help these women for the time being financially because they are struggling with no support.  Sex workers also associated with sex tourism, also known as tourist oriented prostitution. Not all people engage in these sexual activities just for cash either, some may seek marriage or romance and others may just enjoy it on their free time because its pleasurable. In the article its stated that its more effective to form a relationship that could end up being long lasting with returned visits or even marriage, because this is more rewarding and sometimes these sexual encounters can turn into full relationships between the workers and the tourists.

There are differences between men and women sex workers because woman are looked at shamefully for their choice of work, when men may just be seen as workers for the economy helping it to expand. It is looked at as less criticized and shamed in society.  Female sexuality is deserving of protection, and sexual citizenship can thus “point us toward the affirmation of women’s diverse and complex sexualities “( Cabezas, 25). This is an arrangement for women who occupy positions outside of heteronormativity as well. Whether a woman is engaging in sexual encounters for love, marriage, money, or just pleasure she has the right to her own body and that is  important for a women’s advancement and substance .

Amalia L. Cabezas defines “sexual citizenship” to the situation of many women who live in the Caribbean, specifically the women called camareras or jineteras in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. These women do not conform with heterosexual standards of behavior and monogamy, and exchange sex, romance and friendship with foreigners who give them gifts in exchange for their hospitality. Also, women do not identify themselves as prostitutes or sexual workers, in contrast, they believe that by using their bodies an providing pleasure, romance and company to visitors or “amigos” they can support their families, migrate to other countries and perhaps get married.

These women have adapted to the “sex tourism” economy because they want to escape poverty and necessity. And tourists have no legal boundaries to look for sexual services and companionship. However, these women are susceptible to get arrested, raped and extorted by the police. Women get sentenced for prostitution when they are seen alone in the streets near nightclubs and public spaces. Many of these women are sent to rehabilitation centers where they work in agriculture, and get paid low wages. “Jineteras” are seen as deviants by the law and society. Apparently, they lack morality and the social values of socialism. But prostitution is not illegal in Cuba. Dark or light skin color divide a line between who gets labeled as sexual worker or deviant in this economy.

This is ironic because males that show the same behavior and make their living by receiving meals, clothes, trips and jewelry in exchange for sex and companionship do not get stigmatized as deviants, nor get arrested or bothered by the police. In contrast, male that are sexually involved with tourists are seen as “machos.” These male are called, jinetero, pinguero and sanky pankys .

What is important to see is that women and men are immersed in the sexual economy of the tourism industry in the Caribbean imposed by capital relations of western dominant countries. Colonialism and neoliberalism create the conditions for this workforce in the sex tourism sector, which  require skills and specific look and skin color to entertain  customers at the hotel complex.  The sex economy is based in good service, hospitality, romance and love.  And the profit earned from the tourist industry is an important asset for both Cuban and the Dominican Republic governments.

In her article Between Love and Money: Sex, Tourism, and Citizenship, Amelia Cabezas utilizes her fieldwork with women who have participated in the sex trade in the Dominican Republic and Cuba to help define sexual citizenship within these Caribbean countries. Women (and men) practice what she calls “sex tourism”, basically a form of prostitution in which they rely on relationships with tourists from other countries to earn a living. (Often, Cubans and Dominicans seek other opportunities besides money: gifts, travel, and even marriage and migration.) Cabezas describes how these countries’ economic and social moralities have almost circled around sexual practices, a labor force that has generated much capital for their lower-class citizens. How the Cuban and Dominican Republic governments perceive citizenship is based upon heteronormative ideologies, which include hierarchies of gender, class and skin color. Gendered sexual practices affect nationalist pride; where women hurt the country’s pride by “eroding patriarchy” and men influence a powerful national identity.

Ironically, the legal systems pertaining to prostitution and selling one’s sexual practices are not explicitly laid out. Even so, the states have drawn lines between prostitution and a “sex worker”, and they regulate heterosexual activity in heavy tourist areas. These regulations are often based on class and color. In Cuba, where prostitution is not illegal, women are criminalized and often put through rehabilitation for merely walking the streets alone at night and therefore being a “threat” to societal normality. What is most ironic, however, is that while heterosexual women and their heteronormative sexual behaviors are condemned by the state, women’s sexual rights have not even been established in the legal system. According to Hubbard, not having sexual rights and rights over their bodies makes women “partial citizens”. Further, through the state (in both Cuba and the DR), promiscuous sexual acts by nonheteronormative women are not legally recognized at all. There are no legal ways of disciplining these women – no rehabilitation, no mass incriminations. Cabezas argues that without recognition of the citizenship of all women in “sex tourism”, there is no way to challenge the mechanisms that are used to police and discipline women in Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

In “Between Love and Money: Sex, Tourism, and Citizenship in Cuba and the Dominican Republic” by Amelia Cabezas, the author argue the sex citizenship in labor organization, sexual morality and the reality of sexual tourism. The author use Cuba and Dominican Republic as examples, the cause of political issues, the development of economic is behind other countries. It is the major reason of many sexual industries is growing behind the stage. There are many modern literatures to representing the sex tourism during twenty century, and how the inequality relationship between kinds of race, class and sexuality.

The political and economic issues impact the labor industry develop much faster, the social impact is connected between sex tourism and local labor market. Local people believe the sex industry is a quick way to earning money and alive. The financial issues push many young women or man to become a part of industry. Many people believe the industry can save their lives and lead to marriage and migration. The conception and identity sex relationship between body and romance in the society. There are also the legal issues between tourism and local government. The violence and inequality behavior of polices in the third world country. Also, it’s an invisible hand between sex tourism and sex workers.

The moral ideology about sexuality and human’s right. Most of women do not have basic social value and education level to estimate how is the sexual industry. They should have oppurntiries known about the women’s right and social status of the different class, gender should have. The “heteronormativity” which describes the sexual worker in these countries is alive and how their value. There are many women who choose exchange their body for alive. The society should more care about the sex tourism industry and how to solve the issues of sex industry.