Brigada Callejera de Apoyo a la Mujer "Elisa Martínez", A.C.

Community journalism: Mexican sex workers fight injustice with the pen

Paloma Paz puts on a wig and pink heels before heading onto Mexico City's streets for sex work -- a precarious profession that she combines with journalism to decry injustices.

She began writing articles after seeing fellow sex workers thrown onto the street when the hotels where they lived and worked closed due to the pandemic.

Journalism "is a way of shouting at society, at the authorities, about what's happening to us," the 28-year-old transgender woman said.

Mexican sex workers fight injustice with the pen

Paloma Paz puts on a wig and pink heels before heading onto Mexico City's streets for sex work -- a precarious profession that she combines with journalism to decry injustices.

She began writing articles after seeing fellow sex workers thrown onto the street when the hotels where they lived and worked closed due to the pandemic.

Journalism "is a way of shouting at society, at the authorities, about what's happening to us," the 28-year-old transgender woman said.

Las trabajadoras sexuales que ejercen periodismo en México

Paloma Paz se coloca una peluca negra y tacones rosas antes de salir a una esquina de Ciudad de México a ejercer como trabajadora sexual. Frente al espejo habla con entusiasmo de su actividad paralela: el periodismo, que le permite «denunciar injusticias».

Comenzó a escribir notas durante la pandemia, al atestiguar cómo muchas de sus compañeras que vivían en hoteles fueron echadas a la calle. Se sumó así a una veintena de mujeres que alternan el trabajo sexual con periodismo.

Mexican sex workers are wielding the pen to fight injustice

Paloma Paz puts on a wig and pink heels before heading onto Mexico City's streets for sex work — a precarious profession that she combines with journalism to decry injustices.

She began writing articles after seeing fellow sex workers thrown onto the street when the hotels where they lived and worked closed due to the pandemic.

Journalism "is a way of shouting at society, at the authorities, about what's happening to us," the 28-year-old transgender woman said.

'Antes a golpes', ahora trabajadoras sexuales así levantan la voz

Paloma Paz se coloca una peluca negra y tacones rosas antes de salir a una esquina de Ciudad de México a ejercer como trabajadora sexual. Frente al espejo habla con entusiasmo de su actividad paralela: el periodismo, que le permite "denunciar injusticias".

Comenzó a escribir notas durante la pandemia, al atestiguar cómo muchas de sus compañeras que vivían en hoteles fueron echadas a la calle. Se sumó así a una veintena de mujeres que alternan el trabajo sexual con periodismo.

"Antes nos defendíamos a golpes": trabajadoras sexuales también son periodistas

Más que un hobby, el periodismo es una responsabilidad para ellas. Ahora difunden las injusticias y la corrupción no solo dentro de su gremio, sino en otros grupos minoritarios, como los indígenas.

Paloma Paz se coloca una peluca negra y tacones rosas antes de salir a una esquina de Ciudad de México a ejercer como trabajadora sexual. Frente al espejo habla con entusiasmo de su actividad paralela: el periodismo, que le permite "denunciar injusticias".

Mexican sex workers fight injustice with the pen

Paloma Paz puts on a wig and pink heels before heading onto Mexico City's streets for sex work -- a precarious profession that she combines with journalism to decry injustices.

She began writing articles after seeing fellow sex workers thrown onto the street when the hotels where they lived and worked closed due to the pandemic.

Journalism "is a way of shouting at society, at the authorities, about what's happening to us," the 28-year-old transgender woman said.

Mexican sex workers fight injustice with the pen

Paloma Paz puts on a wig and pink heels before heading onto Mexico City’s streets for sex work — a precarious profession that she combines with journalism to decry injustices.

She began writing articles after seeing fellow sex workers thrown onto the street when the hotels where they lived and worked closed due to the pandemic.

Journalism “is a way of shouting at society, at the authorities, about what’s happening to us,” the 28-year-old transgender woman said.

Sex work equals survival for some migrant women in Tapachula, Mexico

Emilee Miranda

For migrants in this overwhelmed city, many women from very different parts of the globe turn to sex work for the same reason: survival.

Behind Benito Juarez Park, in Tapachula’s center, women sit in pairs or stand by themselves outside the bars and restaurants. Their heavy eyeshadow and bright lips are juxtaposed with their casual blouses and sandals. They blend in among the chaos of the square but stand out to the men looking for their services.

Sex work equals survival for some migrant women in Tapachula, Mexico – Cronkite News | Prescott eNews

Photo: Brigada Callejera de Apoyo a la Mujer Elisa Martinez provides free medical services to sex workers in Tapachula, Mexico

For migrants in this overwhelmed city, many women from very different parts of the globe turn to sex work for the same reason: survival.