Struggle in Life, Fight for Space
Elaine, Lam Chi San
Selling sex is considered as a taboo in the Chinese society and there is always a moral conflict about selling sex. Sex workers, prostitutes, or go-go dancers, no matter how people call them, are always linked with guilt, disease and immorality.
Chitang Women Association, a non-profit organization, was established in 2006 to provide assistance to sex workers under the support of Zi Teng Hong Kong. Yim Yue Lin, founder of Chitang, has spent 15 years to help the sex workers and lessen people’s discrimination towards them. She said the discrimination in Hong Kong and Macao is severe and some may even express their discrimination and dissatisfaction through actions.
“There was a time we visited some sex workers in a residential building, and the neighbors splashed urine on the sex workers and us,” said Yim. “This is insulting.”
Hong, 30, coming from Sichuan, has been a sex worker in the form of One-woman brothel for two years. “There are a lot of ways to earn a living, but this job allows me to earn money quickly,” said Hong, who started this job owing to the loss in investment.
“One-woman brothel” is a special brothel in Hong Kong and Macao: one sex worker in one apartment. This brothel is in the grey zone; as long as it is done behind closed door, it is legal. However, it is likely for them to encounter sex violence, robbery and payment refusal, such as many cases happened in Hong Kong. The sex workers dare not call the police as they may have the risk of repatriation. “These happen frequently but we can’t help ourselves,” said Hong.
Macao, for many sex workers from the mainland China like Hong, is just a space to make money. Being a sex worker can help Hong to repay all her debts more quickly. She believed every sex worker has his or her own story behind. “After repaying the debts, I will surely go back home and choose other jobs,” the sex worker said without hesitation.
Hong works in Macao because nobody knows her occupation except a few of her friends. “This job is criticized by people. If I tell my family and friends about my job, they cannot accept it,” said she who thought her family would be ashamed if they knew about it.
She always worries that she will be repatriated. She is tired but forced to keep on doing something against her will. Moreover, she cannot share her feelings to her beloved ones. “I can’t tell my mother about my sufferings,” she said.
“Besides my apartment, I seldom go out for sightseeing or having fun. I’m afraid my neighbors will know about my job,” said she, whose way to relieve stress is drinking alcohol. “Being sober can let me forget about my pain.”
Hong needs to be a sex worker for 4 to 5 more years to pay back the debts. After the repayment of her debts, she plans to go back to her hometown and form a family. Hong is now single but she is hopeful about her future partner and family. “After going back to my home, I will start a new life and forget about my past,” she said.
Yim has helped the sex workers for 15 years through teaching them the Basic Law, personal hygiene and reducing discrimination via workshops in schools. She confessed that it is hard to change one’s mind and education is a useful way but it takes time. Protecting sex workers through law can be another way. “There is no law to protect the sex workers from sex violence in Macao,” Yim added, urging the government and society should raise their awareness towards the sex workers.
“Once the sex workers engage in this industry, they have to bear a great pressure. They may be criticized by the society, abandoned by their family and sweated by others they work for,” said Yim. “They still survive in such a bad environment. They have a strong will to live. They are the Life Fighters.”