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Assignment 11

In Amelia Cabezas’ “Between Love and Money”, she displays and explains the occurrence of “sex tourism” and how it has helped to form a relationship between policy and economic practices. According to Amelia Cabezas, “sex tourism” occurs when tourists that travel abroad  with the intent to vacation also aim to participate in sexual relations with prostitutes. The government supports this form of prostitution and  “tourism” because it assists in increasing the economic status of a country. Which in many ways is true since most second world and third world countries, such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic, rely heavily on tourism. Prostitutes, whether they be male or female, do it for various reasons. I observed in many cases where homosexual gigolos would do it for pleasure and would accept any gifts the person they had relations with would give them. Females would do it to support their families and themselves having no other sources of employment. Surprisingly, other men and women would have relationships with tourists to establish romantic relationships and/or maybe gain entry into another country. In one instance a Dominican woman had relationships with three tourists who gave her money and supported her at some point and they eventually left her. However, she didn’t sell her body as a prostitute would. Cabezas’ research complicates traditional views on citizenship and nationality by placing an upsetting sexual motive behind it. That sexual relations and romances might compel tourists and provide a country’s population with a opportunity to leave the country and live elsewhere. Meaning they most likely might find citizenship in a first world country and have better opportunities. Nationality is complicated by Cabezas’ research because the government, even with counter action against “sex tourism”, in a way supports it and does not try its upmost best to combat sexual relationships for money with citizens and tourists. The increase in economic status of their country comes at the expense of their peoples sexuality and safety.