Queens of the backstreets

Although prostitution is not legal in El Salvador, dozens of street sex workers hang out in the blazing heat of dirty streets, not far from San Salvador’s historic center. Women of all types, wearing provocative miniskirts, some of them even in lingerie, sit right on the street, in front of narrow rooms without windows, or stand behind the grilled windows of shabby houses, where so-called “cervecerías” (beer bars) are operated. These establishments, usually with a hidden backyard full of dark and smelly shells into which sex workers take their clients, are brothels in fact but, officially, they are run as bars.

The vast majority of sex workers use a fictitious name (“nombre artístico”) to conceal their identity and source of income from their family, friends, or even from a partner. Prostitution is a highly stigmatized job. Sex workers have no legal protection as workers, they are despised, often being considered scum by the mainstream (predominantly Catholic-based) society of El Salvador. Although sex workers of all ages are seen on the streets of El Salvador, a significant part of them are single mothers. If a woman with children is abandoned by her male partner (usually the main source of family income in traditional Salvadoran society), and she can not count on sufficient family support, it is virtually impossible for her to sustain herself and her child while being paid a regular Salvadoran salary. Due to the absence of state social programs or funding, these single mothers often seek solutions to their economic problems in prostitution.

The environment of street prostitution is very fluid and momentary, closely tied to the criminal networks. Sex workers have no regular day rhythm, they go to sell themselves only when they want to, changing workplaces and working hours frequently. Sometimes, they even return to ordinary partner’s life for a while. The common rate ($10-15 USD for approximately a ten-minutes service) is negotiable and may be reduced to $5 USD, especially by the older sex workers, or if a sex worker finds herself in an urgent need of money. A certain part of their earnings goes for room rent, a brothel owner may cut off a part too. In addition, all sex workers and brothel owners pay extortion fee to street gangs (Mara Salvatrucha and 18th Street Gang), depending on the territory where they operate. Unless there is no significant increase of violence, the police do not step in and allow the whole street sex business to be run and controlled by gang members.

Although the older sex workers often maintain longer-term relationships with their clients, and thus they act more like psychologists allowing men to come, talk or relax with them, the sexual intercourse itself is always a very impersonal, strictly mechanical action. Sex workers never undress, they just roll up their skirts. They say: "We just rent a vagina, nothing more." Clients’ emotions or gentle touches are not welcome, kissing is prohibited and a condom is always required. By reducing sex to a technical procedure, sex workers protect themselves both from mental discomfort and physical risks that may come up with this work.

A heartless, rough rivalry rules the world of street prostitution in San Salvador. Although sex workers always chat together, seeming to have fun, and being friends, their relationships are strongly competitive and often full of envy. They never stop comparing the number of clients they have or the rates they charge. Defamations, slanders, or, in the worst case, deliberately false information about alleged venereal diseases of fellow sex workers are distributed permanently. Worshipping the folk syncretic saints (San Simón), sex workers like to perform religious or witchcraft rituals, either to attract money on themselves or to harm a colleague next door. They do not hesitate to employ virtually any tool at their disposal to grab as much as possible in their never-ending struggle with the harsh and unmerciful world of street prostitution.

Photography by Jan Sochor