El cuidado. Perspectivas y debates en tiempos

Abstract

This paper presents some questions and reflections on the world of escort
support, based on the experience and life history of “Lucía”, a 45-yearold woman who is dedicated
to this highly paid form of sex work. The in-depth conversations and interviews took place relatively
recently (late 2018 and early 2019) south of
Mexico
City. The names and personal data

were
changed at
the
request of
the
interviewee.
It should
be noted
that
the

core ideas of this text
are
part of an ongoing
research
work; for this
reason,

the
reader will find
more questions than
answers.

It starts from considering sex work and prostitution as social phenomena of
different edges and nuances.
Similarly, for its understanding it is

necessary to take into account the knotting of complex life histories,
fam-
ily and emotional contexts, as well as cultural and economic imperatives.
Likewise, and from a qualitative perspective, the primary interest is to
expose what “Lucia” says, feels and thinks. The main virtue of this essay
–I consider– lies precisely in that it allows an approximation to the significant
universe of an
escort
woman.

The text is divided into four central sections. The first presents a brief
account of the theoretical-political positions regarding prostitution and
sex work, as well as their own ideas about the phenomenon; sections two
and three focus on the testimony of “Lucia”; the last block is made up of
the final reflections of the essay.