Mujeres invisibles: Políticas del ocultamiento entre mujeres que hacen sexo comercial

Abstract

En este artículo exploro las implicancias políticas de las prácticas de desdoblamiento y ocultamiento que llevan a cabo mujeres dedicadas al comercio sexual a fin de mantener en secreto su inserción en la “prostitución”. Para ello me baso en el análisis de observaciones y entrevistas con mujeres que hacen comercio sexual bajo diferentes modalidades y en tres ciudades: Buenos Aires, San Juan y Rosario. Ello me permite conocer las diferentes tácticas que las mujeres emplean para manejar la información y las formas de eludir o enfrentar su estigmatización. Aquí propongo una lectura política de los efectos de dichas tácticas, tanto a nivel de las construcciones simbólicas que estas habilitan o impiden como en relación con los procesos de organización y politización de estas mujeres. De esta forma busco dejar abiertas algunas preguntas que surgen de la reflexión sobre las posibilidades y los riesgos de los secretos/ procesos de visibilización para diversos sujetos estigmatizados y en distintos contextos socioculturales.

In this article I explore the political implications of the practice of splitting and hiding performed by women engaged in commercial sex in order to keep secret its insertion in the "prostitution". For this I rely on the analysis of observation and interviews with women who perform commercial sex under different modalities and in three cities: Buenos Aires, San Juan and Rosario. This allowed me to learn about different tactics women use to manage information and ways to avoid or confront stigmatization. Here I propose a political reading of the effects of these tactics, both at the symbolic constructions they enable or hinder and in relation to the processes of organization and politicization of these women. Thus I seek to pose some questions arising from reflection on the possibilities and risks of secret / visibility process for various stigmatized subjects and in different cultural contexts.

In this article I explore the political implications of the practice of splitting and hiding performed by women engaged in commercial sex in order to keep secret its insertion in the "prostitution". For this I rely on the analysis of observation and interviews with women who perform commercial sex under different modalities and in three cities: Buenos Aires, San Juan and Rosario. This allowed me to learn about different tactics women use to manage information and ways to avoid or confront stigmatization. Here I propose a political reading of the effects of these tactics, both at the symbolic constructions they enable or hinder and in relation to the processes of organization and politicization of these women. Thus I seek to pose some questions arising from reflection on the possibilities and risks of secret / visibility process for various stigmatized subjects and in different cultural contexts.