From Astitwa.com -
http://astitwa.com/updates/july_sotm.php Interview With A Professional Sex-Worker | Friday, July 15, 2005
- By Astitwa Team
Prostitution (sex-work) means the sale of sexual services for money. And a person selling sexual services is called a prostitute.The term prostitution is sometimes used in the more general meaning of having sex in order to achieve a certain goal different from procreation or pleasure. In general, Prostitution is rejected by most religions as being improper or sinful, and prostitutes are considered to be shameful or individuals of low standing in most societies. In the context of Nepal, girls mostly adopt this profession due to various reasons: financial crisis; trafficking of women; sexual slavery ;fraud or coercion; maosist insurgency leading them to survive in urban areas from rural areas; luxurious lifestyles etc. Since, prostitution is not legal in Nepal, so they are forced to live in obscurity. We have spoken to " YASMI ", a Nepali girl, on July 12, 2005 about the facts of her life being a prostitute who sees her work the most natural way inorder to live a luxurious lifestyle.
Name: Yasmi (Name has been changed order to maintain privacy)
Profession: Sex-worker
Education: Intermediate level
Age: 22
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Astitwa team: (AT) | Prostitute: (Pro)
AT: Tell us about your past before adopting this profession?
Pro: I was 19 when I started this profession. Before coming to Kathmandu, I had already completed my intermediate level from Sikkim. I came to kathmandu, in my brother's place(relative) to spend my vacations. I was then hired as receptionist, in a travel agency with an income of Rs.3000. I just had to do the general administrative works. Later, I met a guy in my near place and we got along for 3/4 months just as friends. Gradually, we started dating each other and he was the first person to whom I made love for the first time.Since I liked him, so we were still continuing our relation. Then, I started working as GRO (Guests Relation Officer) in a dance restaurant at evening time. I just had to attend guests and makes bills. I left my brother's place and started living with a former dance restaurant girl from Darjeeling. She was married to her own customer as a second wife. Finally, I resigned the job in travel agency and continued in the post of GRO.
AT: Did your bf knew that you work in dance restaurant?
Pro: No, he was not aware of this reality because I used to go for work at the evening time.
AT: Why have you choosen to become a prostitute?
Pro: The main reason is money. It's an easy way to make money. In the same dance restaurant, I started getting offers from the guests, while attending them. I used to go in hotels, resorts and to other places with my customers. I get Rs.3000 when I work for a month as a receptionist. But I earn Rs.3000 when I sleep with one customer.
AT: Did Darjeeling woman support you?
Pro: Yes, she was really helpful for me. She had many contacts and introduced me to many male friends. And my montly income started rising up. I earned around Rs.50,000 per month. Later, I started living all alone in my own (two-bedrooms)flat.
AT: How do you spend the money earned?
Pro: I used to spend on clothes, jewelleries and other stuffs. I used to enjoy doing shopping. After a collection of good income, I bought a bike for myself so that I could ride to my destined places. Later, I had an accident and I sold my bike due to financial crisis.
AT: How have you been dealing with your customers before and now?
Pro: Before, I used to go to in the same dance restaurant. Since, I used to be the centre of attraction and I was given the freedon to appear thrice a week as a GRO. Then, I got offers and if the guy agree on my demand, I used to bring him to my place and slept with him.
But things have changed now. I no longer go to dance restaurants to lure the clients or guests. All works with a phone call in my mobile. If the guests are unknown to me, then I first find out if they are trustworthy or not. After 4/5 calls, I meet them at a different spot and then decide to sleep with them or not. I usually bring guys to my place during afternoon so that the house owner can't make any suspection. I work in night shifts once in a blue moon if there is a regular customer.
AT: How did you manage to work in your place?
Pro: At present, I have four rooms of flat and a servant as well. I have said to my house owner that I work in a manpower company. So its obvious that few people come to my place for inquiry. So, there's no point of suspection by my house-owner. I pay the rent in time and they are quite happy. I just have 2/3 clients a day at my place. And there are times, when I have no clients as well.
AT: How much money you make in a month generally?
Pro: In general, I make up to Rs.50,000. But in any kind of crisis in the country such as strikes etc, I make up to Rs.15,000 to Rs. 20,000. So there's a fluctuation in my income: Rs.15,000 to Rs. 50,000.
AT: Have your ever encountered with police?
Pro: Yes, but they are my clients and they even pay too. Being an educated girl, I am very much aware of legal issues. After the age of 18, one is free to do whatever she likes. If I have desires for sex, then I can satisfy myself getting a guy at my place. I know that providing sexual service for money is illegal. So, I ask people serving for government to buy gifts of the same rate because that is not said to be illegal.
AT: What types of age-groups are your clients and what are your charging rates?
Pro: My clients are from boys to old aged people. Mostly, I prefer the age-group of late twenties because I also enjoy doing sex with them. But whoever, pays me more, I sleep with them. My clients are from higher rank posts in government sectors, businessmen, young college boys to general as well. My rate is Rs. 1500 whenever I am free. I charged Rs. 3000 and above to matured and old aged people and Rs. 2000 to young boys. And I usually charge Rs. 5000/7000 for a whole night. She does nothing for free. To put in simple terms, no free sex trade.
AT: The general perception of the Nepalese society terms prostitution as a sin and doesn't respect even accept this profession. But males keep on searching for the places of pleasure.So, what is your opinion towards these males?
Pro: In the countries all over the world, prostitution is being legalised. So, I give a damn towards the thoughts of our society because I don't harm anyone. I sell my body for myself only. And I find myself really lucky to have these male friends because they are the mainstay of my living. If there are no clients then, I even can't afford for my primary needs. I prefer making male friends rather than females because friendship with males makes you forward and you can gain the knowledge regarding diverse matters. But with females, you are always in the gossips and discussions of upcoming fashions in the town. Men have money, pride, power and prestige. And whenever there is any kinda economic problem or any work to be done, I just have to make a phone call and my work is done. So, there's no use of making female friends.
AT: You provide your services in a very organized way? How did you know about all these?
Pro: I am very fond of movies. And I adopted these procedures from the movies only. After I receive phone calls, I fix the time and ask the client to come to my place. Then, I serve him beer and meat varieties for Rs. 500. After, we have a chat and have our drinks together. Then, the deal is started, if he agrees with my selling rate then I take him to my bedroom and provide sexual service otherwise ask him to leave my place.
AT: Do any of your friends or relatives know about you?
Pro: Since, I haven't stayed and studied here, So I don't have any females friends and all my male friends are my clients. I also left my bf as I started taking prostitution as my profession. I have no time to make females friends. All those friends at the dance restaurants are still at the primary level. And I have no contacts with them. There are no such relatives in kathmandu concerned about me.
AT: Why did you start alone rather than making it a team-work so that you would have a friend to share your happiness and sorrow?
Pro: I didn't find any necessity of female friends in my life. I share my problems with a good friend of mine in his mid- fourties. He helps we whenver I have any financial problem. I think I am strong enough to earn and manage things by myself. I have maintained my standards and limits and thats the reason I stand in the society. I do my work in a very professional way. And other girls can't maintain the standards that I possess.
AT: Any bad incidents happened in this profession? Have you ever felt guilty working as a prostitute?
Pro: Well, there's nothing worst happened. There are certain clients who come and bargain for rates, compare me with other sex-workers etc. And this makes me mad and I scold them and ask them to leave my place. I am very short-tempered girl and my anger makes me feel guilty later.
I never lived with any kind of guilt through out these 4 years because I was not forced by anyone. At the age of 19, I was matured enough to think what I am doing. In this modern world, everyone wants to make money, enjoy and spend life in luxury. With the monthly income of Rs.3,000 or Rs.10,000 I could never live a standard lifestyle like the way I'm living today. Before, I used to wonder seeing the villages girls riding bikes and spending lavishly on clothes and other stuffs. Then, I came to know the reality of their lives. If such uneducated girls can easily sell their body for money then why can't I? I got very jealous seeing them because being an educated girl I could not earn much and girls who even do not know the alphabets of english were making money in hours. Since prostitution was a easy money making process, So I peferred this profession rather than doing 9 t 5 job in office.
AT: Have you faced problems due to any kind of crisis in Nepal?
Pro: The political instability had greatly influenced my business. Since I have all my contacts through mobiles, I faced a very critical situation during those few months. My monthly income decreased to Rs. 9000 to Rs. 10000. I somehow managed to pay my rent and other stuffs because I had no clients.
AT: What is the important thing in your life?
Pro: Of course, money. I got involved into this profession for money. And If anyone provides me a job of more than the earnings from this profession, I will leave this profession. But I don't think that average Nepalese girls can earn more in other profession besides selling body. If they want quick changes, then they need to sell their body.
AT: Are you in contact with your family?
Pro: I visit my family once in a year. And they don't know what I am doing. I have told that I work in an office, So they are not much bothered. Beside body-selling profession, I work as materials supplier for home contracts as my side job.
AT: At present, do you stay alone or with your relatives?
Pro: I stay alone. My brother comes once or twice in a year, which doesn't make any difference at all. He is busy with his friends and arrives late so there's no point of suspection becase I mostly do my work at day time.
AT: What are your future plans?
Pro: After a good saving of money, I want to get married and settled. I dream of my husband, family and a peaceful life.I want my husband to provide the same facilities that I am enjoying and my demands needs to be fulfilled. I will discontinue this profession after marriage. I am interested in fashion and furnitures. So, I may open a business depending on my interests like boutique or any furniture shops.
AT: Any suggestions to other sex-workers?
Pro: I just have a single message: Practice safe sex because health comes first rather than money.
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