Sex workers in the city of Puebla commemorated International Women's Day by taking to the streets with their faces covered and red umbrellas to demand significance for their work. They walked through the streets presenting themselves as they are and asking to be recognized as women, friends, and mothers. Mariela Yazmín González, leader of the Asociación Chicas de la 14, explained that they seek to make themselves visible as women with an active social life.
In González's words: “We ask for the visibility of sex workers as women, homemakers, who also experience daily violence and institutional violence.” Their main demand is the regulation of their work to be recognized as sex workers and not to be penalized as prostitutes. She pointed out that discrimination and machismo from the authorities are obstacles to overcome, as they suffer from aggression and verbal violence.
Lorena Rojas, president of the Asociación Voces y Caminos (Vocam), shared that they help sex workers with psychological and legal issues, as they often report violence and sexual assaults. Three out of ten reports are for these reasons, but many continue to be ignored by the authorities and society. Rojas emphasized the support they provide so that they feel free and safe.
A sex worker named Rocío said that she works seven to eight hours a day to support her five children, who range from primary education to university. She does this work out of necessity as she has no education and faces difficulties finding paid employment. Through their testimonies, sex workers in Puebla seek to raise awareness about their reality and demand the respect and recognition they deserve in society.
