Prostitution In Latin America Essay

The role of women in Latin American society started to evolve during the postcolonial years of the early twentieth century. As Latin American countries started to assert their independence and search for ways to secure a prosperous future, women also fought to secure changes that would ensure them a better quality of life. The gender biases that had relegated women to household duties had also expanded to include obligations to perform duties in industrial factories. The struggle to balance home and work life encouraged women to fight for equal rights and independence from a system of patriarchy. These efforts were especially prominent in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, where women joined together and form societies aimed at combating political, …show more content…
Women of lower socioeconomic status were forced to accept low-paying factory jobs while maintaining their domestic duties under a patriarchal society. And although women comprised thirty-nine percent of the workforce, they continued to suffer discriminatory practices and exploitation. The lower classes of Argentine society had a large population of prostitutes. In an attempt to control the spread of diseases and the location of brothels, the government legalized prostitution in 1875. Prostitution became an integral part of patriarchal society as an outlet for male sexual tensions. However, to prevent the sex trade from corrupting the fabric of society it was highly regulated and the legalization of prostitution became a form of revenue for the aristocracy. Prostitution and bordellos also spawned a new form of social expression called the tango, which combined dance with songs that addressed the dark parts of society, such as the slums, crime, and the powerful influence poverty had on adolescent girls. In 1934, the ruling military regime abolished prostitution and in an effort to thwart unemployment offered the women employment and free medical