The Legality Of Prostitution In Buenos Aires
Most evenings at around 8pm I exit the subway station at Congreso de Tucuman in northern Belgrano. When doing so, I often pass a scruffy young man who stands atop the station steps. He usually thrusts his hand in front of my chest, indicating he wants to give me something. It’s a folleto, a little rectangular pamphlet. It has a photo of a voluptuous, scantily-clad woman on it, as well as phone numbers and sometimes even a colorful map on the back.
It’s a map of my neighborhood, but not one that gives directions to a nearby restaurant or supermarket. Instead, it details the path to the neighborhood whorehouse. The pamphlet advertises “promotions” starting at 30 pesos. What do you get for that? I haven’t tried to cash-in my “coupon,” but it’s not hard to imagine.
Depending on your mindset, you might think this is shameful – an outrage and an affront to family values and residential hygiene. But not everyone thinks this way, particularly those who grab the pamphlet and head straight to the house of pleasure. “Dude, I wanna live in your neighborhood,” a friend jokingly said last week.
Whatever the case, this commentary is not about the morality of prostitution. It’s about the legality and marketing of it. I have lived in Buenos Aires – and in many of its neighborhoods – for the better part of 12 years. Never have I seen a more pervasive proliferation of prostitution publicity than what I’ve seen over the past few months. It’s nearly everywhere, it seems. Though not in all barrios, my guess is that it would be hard for a male to walk the city from day to night without encountering at least one – and perhaps many – ads for paid sexual services. In my neighborhood there are many such ads and many such places.
Of course, there is nothing new about escort services or male entertainment clubs in downtown, in Recoleta or in any other part of the world. After all, it’s the oldest profession in the world, right? But based on my own (admittedly unscientific) observations of street-level propaganda, it appears that similar clubs – and even full-blown bordellos – are becoming somewhat more common in other areas, too. This is not even to mention the proliferation of “massage” parlors or “relax” services that are advertised in various parts of Barrio Belgrano, downtown, Nuñez, Palermo and elsewhere.
Journalist and Curious George that I am, I took my questions about this matter to the district attorney’s office for an interview. I’ll soon post the full interview, as well as a broader look at prostitution, on Scooping Argentina. For now you can see some of my questions – and the answers to them – here:
Scooping Argentina: Is prostitution legal in Buenos Aires?
Assistant DA Luis Jorge Cevasco: Yes, though there are certain ways of working as a prostitute that are illegal. There are no laws that sanction people for charging money to have sex. But it is illegal to carry out sex acts in whorehouses.
SA: Do you have an official estimate of how many prostitutes there are in Buenos Aires?
LJC: I don’t. But I would say that for a city the size of Buenos Aires, which has around 3 million people, the number is not excessively high. I would think it’s not more than 1,500 people, and even that number is probably exaggerated. Perhaps the number is that high or higher if you’re talking about clandestine brothels.
Strip clubs, strictly speaking, are legal in Buenos Aires. So is prostitution, as long as it doesn’t occur in an organized fashion in a whorehouse, said Cevasco. Whorehouses per se are illegal in the city. But women can voluntarily sell themselves at strip clubs, so long as they consummate their sexual acts at another location. Cevasco said that “The of Law of Prophylaxis” bans houses of ill repute or “casas de tolerancia” as they’re known in Spanish legalese. The same law also bans prostitution in certain public places, namely in areas within 200 meters of schools, religious institutions or residential homes. In addition, the law bans “obscene sexual displays” that could “surprise” people who don’t appreciate such sights.
This law has led to controversy regarding the well-known area of La Rosedal in Palermo. There, between the hours of 9pm and 6am, transvestites openly market their services to prospective clients. Anyone who has been to La Rosedal at night knows it is not a place for the prude or tame-hearted. Transvestites commonly stand naked as they market themselves or, more accurately, their bodies. But while some neighbors complain about these activities, legal authorities defend them, saying it is reasonable to assume that anyone who steps into La Rosedal after dark knows what he’s getting into. As a result, visitors can’t reasonably claim to be “surprised” by what they see there. “Because of this, it’s very hard to imagine that any judge would condemn anybody for this type of act in this place,” Cevasco said.
Cevasco said brothels such as those advertised in my neighborhood are illegal. Moreover, he noted that a recent law makes even the mere marketing of prostitution illegal. “The Buenos Aires Legislature just passed a law that imposes heavy fines and up to 90 days in jail for people who facilitate access to these kind of places,” he said.
That is true for anyone who tries to market prostitution, he said. But this part of the law leads to an odd contradiction: A hotel clerk or taxi driver who advises a prospective John on where to find prostitutes can be punished for promoting behavior that is itself legal.
SA: Let me see here. You’re saying it’s illegal for a taxi driver to tell a tourist where he can find prostitutes even though prostitution itself is legal?
LJC: That’s right.
SA: Isn’t there a paradox here?
LJC: Yes, there is. Constitutionally, one can’t prohibit people from using their bodies as they please. What the law tries to do is prevent the mass commercialization of this type of activity. I’m against prohibiting this kind of activity because doing so generally leads to legal and cultural contradictions, and ends up fostering corruption. These kind of places (whorehouses) tend to exist anyway. And when they do, they end up working under the auspices of police corruption. This is indisputable.
SA: Anything else you’d like to say?
LJC: When you have an increase in this kind of activity, it’s because there are unresolved social problems behind it. You can’t solve social problems with punitive laws. Prostitution rises when poverty rises. To reduce prostitution, you have to focus on improving social and cultural factors and not on penal processes that historically haven’t rendered positive results.
Popularity: 2% [?]
In Argentina, it’s VERY common for men to frequent brothels… Dare I say it, even more so than in other countries. I think it has a lot to do with the local culture. Unless they are in a steady relationship, it’s really hard for men to get laid here. In my opinion, the reason for this is the nature of the local women. Argentine females are not so “welcoming”, so to speak. In fact, they have a reputation for being difficult and complicated. Thus, unless you have a girlfriend, your only option is to pay for sex.
I was thinking about your post when I heard this week that a brothel in Aurora, IL had been raided and brought down by Aurora Police. It seems there are illegal whorehouses in places like Illinois as well. I understand in Las Vegas there are plenty of this type of illegal operations.
like carlos say´s yes it´s very dificult to have an unexpected encounter with a girls specially the in one day or even in disco´s only happends with crazy girls if u are lucky that´s why the brothels prospere in argentina in conclussion it the culture and the fault of the woman´s that dificult this things ( as carlos say it´s real)
The focus of Taos’s article and the main viewpoint expressed is that prositution is directly influenced and dramatically rises w/increases in poverty levels. Where did it say anything about Argentine women not willing to have one night stands or short term relationships? Where do you live? I don’t find that to be true in Buenos Aires. It will never be as easy to take a woman home as it is to pay to take one home. It is a very machista point of view to say that that is the reason why prostitution is thriving and increasing. It is not really hard for men to get laid- only the lazy ones who lack the skills to chamuchar bien a una mujer.
“It is a very machista point of view to say that that is the reason why prostitution is thriving and increasing. It is not really hard for men to get laid- only the lazy ones who lack the skills to chamuchar bien a una mujer.”
What does machismo have to do with any of this? I think thriving prostitution in Argentina can be easily explained by the law of supply and demand. Because there is such a high demand for prostitutes among argentine men, prostitution thrives so much. It’s very simple really.
On the other hand, I don’t think argentine men find it so easy to get laid. If it were so, they wouldn’t be paying for sex in high numbers. What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense at all.
Besides, if argentine women were approachable why do the men need to be so skilled to hit on them? I think you’re missing something here…
When I am here it always calls my attention to see how young men frequent brothels on a regular basis. And then talk about it like it was completely normal. You just don’t see that in other countries. In other places, people date. In Argentina, most don’t. They only “date” within their own circle of friends. This of course makes it much harder to meet women. Unless they know you very well or you are introduced to them by some friend of theirs, most of them will ignore you. And even then you’ll have to work really hard before they allow any sexual intimacy… You know what… I just feel sorry for argentine men. They are the ones who take the worst part. Most of them have to pay for sex and can’t pick up girls without having to do a course first.
I do not agree w/ your comment that prostitution in Argentina can be easily explained by the law of supply and demand. Obviously you do not agree w/ what Taos or Luis Jorge Ovasco said. If you have lived in Argentina and not just visited you might have a diff. point of view and understanding regarding prostitution and Argentine women in general. Prostitutes are not in high demand as you say rather there are increasing numbers due to poverty levels in Argentina. There are no jobs. There are a lot of illegal immigrants who cannot find work and need to feed their kids. Paco has become an widespread epidemic w/ prosititution as one of the consequences. Do you understand what the economic situation in Argentina has been like since 2001?
On another note do you speak the language fluently? That makes a HUGE difference in your chances of getting laid. I think that you are missing something here. It does not take “high skills” to convince an Argentine woman to go home with you just basic communication skills, intelligence, personality and of course decent looks. Within the corporate community it is common to take turists to strip clubs or clubs where call girls are available just like it is in New York, Paris, Rio or Rome. So you do see this in other countries. It is not just Argentina in that sense.
In Argentina people do date and it is not only within their circle of close friends. Have you ever thought that mabye it is the group of people that you are around that have this problem? I did not see this when I was in university or as a corporate professional. None of my friends find it to be true either. Picking up a girl is not hard work but it is not as easy as paying for sex- that is why it is the lazy man’s way out or you are either unattractive and have no communication skills or you are into things most women won’t do. So contrary to your beliefs Argentine men are not in a bad position w/ no other option but to pay for sex and Argentine women are not mission impossible either.
In response to the article and the commments regarding it, I believe that prostitution in any country is a shameful and unpardonnable practice. Most women resort to prostitution as means of money and it is the men, coming from any social class, who support this by buying the bodies of these women.
So therefore I do not agree with rodrigo’s comment saying that it is the fault of the Argentine women that prostitution is able to flourish. One cannot blame women, for it is the men who make is possible for women to succumb to such an inhumane area of business.
It seems to me that there are two opposite points of view expressed about the nature of Argentine women. So apparently it is the men who may feel they lack the skills or confidence to woo the women. So they therefore resort to the easiest alternative: prostitutes for their own personal sexual gratification.
It makes no difference what culture one is brought up in; prostitution is not right. The men who exploit women in such ways are pathetic and insecure. And if a man is so macho, then why would he have to pay for sex?
Paying for sex would be embarrassing and definitely not something worth bragging about.
Obviously, the Argentine government is not ignoring this issue because it is trying to stop the trafficking of women by making the marketing of prostitutes illegal. It seems that prostitution is recognized as a debauched and immoral practice in Argentina, so any man should not be proud of participating in the trade of marketing humans. Some men need to either find alternatives to relieve their sexual gratification or like most men, get up and meet las mujeres!
“I do not agree w/ your comment that prostitution in Argentina can be easily explained by the law of supply and demand. Obviously you do not agree w/ what Taos or Luis Jorge Ovasco said. If you have lived in Argentina and not just visited you might have a diff. point of view and understanding regarding prostitution and Argentine women in general.”
Stop making assumptions. I’ve lived in Argentina for a long time now, and contrary to what you say, I know Argentine women VERY WELL. I even dated one for some time and it was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. Besides, I have many Argentine friends and am very familiar with the local culture. They are a complicated bunch, believe me… Maybe you don’t realize this because you’ve never dated foreign women and therefore can’t draw a comparison.
“Prostitutes are not in high demand as you say rather there are increasing numbers due to poverty levels in Argentina.”
Well this statement says it all… If you think prostitutes are not in high demand in Argentina then you must be living under a rock… After all, it is YOU who is totally oblivious to this issue.
“On another note do you speak the language fluently?”
Yes, I speak the language fluently.
“That makes a HUGE difference in your chances of getting laid.”
It makes no difference at all. If it depended on that, then Argentine men would be getting laid all day…. And that’s not happening.
“I think that you are missing something here.”
I disagree. I think it is YOU who is missing a lot.
“It does not take “high skills” to convince an Argentine woman to go home with you just basic communication skills, intelligence, personality and of course decent looks.”
BS. Argentine women don’t go home with anyone, unless of course they know him very well. They tend to be very reserved and most of the time they only date within their circle of people. If they don’t know you and you’re not introduced to them by some acquaintance of theirs, forget it. The idea of Argentine women taking strangers home for sex is highly unrealistic… In my opinion, such a statement could only come from someone who has no clue what he’s talking about.
On a side note, I very much doubt it that the local women look for intelligence when choosing a sex partner….
“Within the corporate community it is common to take turists to strip clubs or clubs where call girls are available just like it is in New York, Paris, Rio or Rome. So you do see this in other countries. It is not just Argentina in that sense.”
Indeed, tourists do frequent brothels in other countries as well. The difference is that in Argentina those places are also packed with ARGENTINE men, not just tourists… And no, pardon me but I’ve never seen this anywhere else. In the US, you just don’t see a lot of young Americans paying for sex. Guess why? The reason is simple- they don’t need to. American women have a more open attitude towards sex and thus, unexpected sexual encounters are much more common.
The truth is that, unlike Americans, Argentines have to pay for sex unless they are in a steady relationship. If they didn’t, they’d never get laid…
“Have you ever thought that mabye it is the group of people that you are around that have this problem?”
BS. As I said before, I’ve lived here for a long time now and know A LOT of people. Besides, you don’t have to be a genius to realize what I’m saying… You just have to go out and see what the locals do… It is self-evident.
Wow- your response is full of frustration and anger. That is evident in your response. Living in Argentina and being Argentine are two different things- any Argentine will tell you that. I can guarantee you, being a successful Argentine business executive and having travelled extensively that I do not live under a rock. And yes growing up in a certain culture does make a difference wether you accept it or not. It appears that no one could say anything contrary to your convenient beliefs about prostitution so it is not even worth continuing a dialogue at all with someone who is so single minded, contrarian, antagonistic and freely insults others in a blog while letting their emotions get the better of them.
“Wow- your response is full of frustration and anger. That is evident in your response.”
I’m just stating the truth. I don’t know why this offends you so much… Anger, frustation…. Is this the best you can come up with?
“That is evident in your response.”
The only thing evident here is your inability to make a valid point.
“Living in Argentina and being Argentine are two different things- any Argentine will tell you that.”
Funny how you keep resorting to the “being Argentine is not the same as being a foreigner” garbage. As if being a foreigner made me less capable of seeing how things are and somehow this gave you more credibility. Clearly, you keep trying to discredit me by attacking my character… What a pathetic attempt at an argument!!
“I can guarantee you, being a successful Argentine business executive and having travelled extensively that I do not live under a rock.”
How many times are you going to tell us that you are Argentine and a successful business executive? In case you didn’t notice, repeating the same (irrelevant) things over and over will get you nowhere in this discussion… If anything, it only shows your lack of arguments.
On another note, I don’t understand how someone who claims to be so well-traveled can be unaware of what I’m saying. I’m just stating the obvious. I’m very good friends with a number of your contrymen who are enlightened enough to admit this- that Argentine women are notorious for being complicated and difficult and that they find foreign women to be much more relaxed and sexually liberalized… I’ve even had some Argentine females admit this to me! Anonymous, I think you may want to step into the light because believe me, NO ONE believes your nonsense… and most deeply, I imagine, not even YOU believe your own nonsense… You are in total denial!!!!
“And yes growing up in a certain culture does make a difference wether you accept it or not.”
Who said anything about culture not making a difference? I never said such a thing so STOP putting words in my mouth…
“It appears that no one could say anything contrary to your convenient beliefs about prostitution so it is not even worth continuing a dialogue at all with someone who is so single minded, contrarian, antagonistic and freely insults others in a blog while letting their emotions get the better of them.”
At this point, it seems obvious that you have nothing to contribute to this thread except ridiculous statements and profanity. As I have proven, your views on Argentine women and prostitution are totally biased and hypocritical… Let me remind you that, according to your twisted views, in Argentina only the tourists frequent brothels and Argentine men don’t need to since they find it so easy to get laid and the local women are so open to casual sex… How you expect us to accept this crap without question is beyond me. Nice fairy tale, though…
That said, I never insulted anyone. I just stated that what you say doesn’t make any sense at all.. That is not an insult, it is a FACT. And if I ever had to lower myself to your level it was in response to your vicious personal attacks. I always provided arguments to back up my points but you, instead of addressing those arguments, chose to reduce the entire discussion to ad hominem attacks. This makes it clear that you have nothing even remotely intelligent to say. Your arrogance and condescending attitude leave a lot to be desired. You try so hard to put me down yet the only thing you accomplished is make yourself look bad… Anyone see the irony here?
“it is not even worth continuing a dialogue at all with someone who is so single minded, contrarian, antagonistic”
So typical, resort to childish name-calling when you don’t have a rational coherent argument or response…. Too bad for you. Your inability to address my arguments with anything other than attacks is noted. Perhaps this is your childish way of saying that I’m right.
Have a nice day!
Prostitutes are the most caring, kind and educated women that I have ever met. They are the best of women As an older man they have provided genuine love to me and have given me the hope of life. The word whore is a contraction of the word holy. In the United States these wonderful women are rounded up and thrown into prison and the people that do this travel to other countries to spread the evil of their beliefs to other countries.
What do you think?
Women will never understand. If you are a guy that can’t dance well and uncomfortable trying to convince a stranger that you are worthy, while spending hundreds of dollars on drinks. What are you options?
In Argentina it is legal and the women in the clubs have the right to say no, which I have seen them do.
What many women don’t understand is that they can go get laid anytime they want to. Guys have to try, try and try again and enjoy getting shot down multiple times. Fun! Also, what if you are not looking for a relationship. Generally you can’t get laid until meeting out several times and if you don’t want anything serious women get mad when you start to flake. So here is the question, is it better to lead women on when all you want is just sex?
Doesn’t matter my justification. This is just something that men do that drive women crazy. Due to my religious upbringing I do get guilt and shame, but then again I treat women very nicely and make sure they are completely comfortable.
if someone wanted a big story at your paper… the governor of South Carolina, USA Mark Sanford disappeared for a week alone in Buenos Aires. He left everyone thinking he was somewhere else, has been known to “party”. He left his wife and four kids during fathers day.. It’s all a bit suspicious on this end.. and I bet some interesting stuff may turn up there..
[...] wondering if all this is really legal, the answer is – sort of. For more on that, check out this post I did in 2007 on the legality of prostitution in Buenos [...]
So you are saying that the only reason that men from Argentina pay for prostitutes is because:
1) They are insecure and lack the skills to woe a woman,
2) Are looking for no attachment and desire to have “sex” only
(Couldn’t 32, be an oxymoron.. hmmmm let me get this staright..
A man wants to stick his dick inside the most intimate part of my body, that is to be inside of me and does not want to have a connection with me)?
What do I look like a fuckin toilet where you shit?
Whether you like it or not there will be a connection and not only that but an exchange of energy.
The other interesting twist is that “politics” will never solve the world’s problems, just as long as it is headed by “imperfect” humans.
On another note, the law, should be used as a structural format as to “how” to improve our lives instead of how to rightfully misconstrue it, for men’s own personal gain; who lack self integrity and respect for themselves and their fellow humans.
Think about it… If there is a spoiled apple in a basket.. won’t it spoil the rest?
In other words if prostitution is permitted.. won’t it ruin and thus “spoil” the society as a “whole” in the long run.
The children are the future of tomorrow.. what are your behaviors teaching them?
Will families be having incestuous relatonships and sex with animals thereafter.. as soon as the “flood waters” of prostitution are open.. and will the tolerance be taught in school?
What a pitty.. sadly there is a lack of reason and structure.
Men need to stop thinking with the LITTLE HEAD that they have downstairs and start using sound reason!!!!
Humans do not run on batteries rather we have an internal charge. When you have “sex” with someone be that a whore or a regular woman you will take a piece of her and leave a piece of you behind.
You choose whether it is trash that you like or a well kept home.
By the way if you get genital warts, other sexually transmitted diseased, HIV and even AIDS are you still going to be trying to stick you dick in another ass or pussy?
A diseased dick is equivalent to carrying a loaded gun.
Don’t forget that it is, ” An eye for an eye..”
Are you ready to be “BANGED OUT” if you are the one carrying a loaded gun?
Life is not a game… grow up men ..stop desecrating your bodies and using women as disposable commodities… you disgust me!
I agree with anonymus, getting laid here is not difficult and you don’t really need any skill you just have to behave like a normal male person.
I’ve lived in BA since young and I know it and it’s streets well.
I really don’t understand why some people make such a great deal about prostitution.
About the girls, I do think they are a bit more challenging for us that in other places, probably because of the culture, because of the way we see the world and judge it. Of course the way we judge our sisters, female friends and other women. Women are the reflexion of their men (ask C.F. Kirchner if you don’t believe me
). The brightside of this is that, comparing the girls I’ve met from the states with argentinian girls, I’ ve found the argentian girls to have higher self-steem than their american counterparts.
Really is just a thing of “getting it” or not and having what it takes to get it or not, not a big deal.
This article, and especially the comments should be read by all! We have guys who go to brothels (which I think is fine), guys who claim to “get it for free” and say they would NEVER go to brothels, women who are pissed off and proving the point of other commenters…absolutely great stuff and reflective of the diverse attitudes in the world!