Lila's House by Jacobo Schifter

Author:Jacobo Schifter [Schifter, Jacobo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781317712183
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2014-06-11T00:00:00+00:00

A CLEAN SLATE

Cacherismo in this house is a young person’s activity and ends early in life. With just one exception, there are no prostitutes over twenty-five in Lila’s brothel. These young men are expected to spend only a few years in this job. Thousands of adult men have practiced this profession without arousing the slightest suspicion. Mono feels that “At twenty-five, I’m already considered a veteran.” Arnoldo believes that “You only practice this profession for a while. It’s a passing thing. You’ll never reach old age as a whore.” Carlos knows a lot of men who spent some time at the house but then “left this profession completely.”

To prove that this is a temporary job, the cacheros have girlfriends, become engaged, or already live with women. The majority have more than one child. Only one admitted to not being in a stable relationship with a woman, but said he did have sex with women. Many of these women know about their boyfriends’ work, or at least suspect. Noé admits to “having told her [his wife] what I do for work” to prevent her “hearing it from someone else.” Rodrigo’s mother knows that her son is a cachero and laughs about it, but she wants him to marry a woman. Mono’s girlfriend waits for him in the pool hall next to the brothel. “She knows that I do this for money and that I’m not being unfaithful.” Whether or not the women know, the interviewees make it clear to others that they have female companions. “I grab my girlfriend near the pool hall so my friends will see—then they know that I’m not queer,” says Tomás.

Two factors influence the temporary nature of prostitution. One is that Lila’s clients are pederasts and want young men (without facial hair). The other has to do with moral perceptions of prostitu tion. Cacheros consider their work a sin. There is no cultural discourse that allows them to look at their activities as a profession. There is a general consensus in the country that prostitution is negative and sinful. Thus, many of these young men feel “dirty” working in an “easy,” “corrupt” profession. As Fernando puts it:

2nd interviewer: So, you work in prostitution to provide a good life for your family?

Fernando: For the moment, yes.

2nd interviewer: Why haven’t you tried to look for a different job?

Fernando: I’m looking, but it’s very hard for me to find a job.

2nd interviewer: Why?

Fernando: Because I don’t have my papers.

2nd interviewer: You’re illegal?

Fernando: Yes, I’m illegal.

2nd interviewer: Does being illegal have much to do with your job?

Fernando Of course. In this country you even need papers to be a janitor.

2nd interviewer: Tell me something—can you see a time in the future when you’ll be able to leave this profession?

Fernando Sure. When I get my documents, I’ll find a good job, and won’t have to do this—instead I’ll have a real job. This work is very dirty.

2nd interviewer: You see it as dirty?

Fernando: Sure.

2nd interviewer: Why?

Fernando: Because, I don’t know … sex is something very intimate.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.