A group of sex workers in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais have been taking English classes once a week so that they can communicate better with soccer fans who might use their services when they come to Brazil. Volunteer English teacher Igor Fuchs teaches a class to women who are members of the Association of Prostitutes of Minas Gerais, an organisation of sex workers that sponsors events and attends local and international conferences.
During class, these women not only learn basic vocabulary like the days of the week, but also sexual words and phrases to use on the job. I was on an assignment to take pictures of a group of prostitutes who are taking English classes once a week in preparation for the World Cup.
They hope these lessons will help them communicate better with soccer fans who might use their services when they come to Brazil. While I was there, I saw quite a bit of activity in the small room they rent as office space, but it was mostly from women looking for condoms. They would enter, open their plastic bags, and the secretary would drop in a fistful of the little packets.
Some of the women would walk out without muttering a word after signing a paper for what they received. Others, however, would stay a while to tell anecdotes, laughing and describing the sexual fantasies of their clients in some detail. Patricia, the secretary, is the daughter of a prostitute and also used to work as one herself.
She looked at me with distrust at first, but then she started laughing at my face when she saw me react to some of the sexual tales that I heard. Once she also surprised me by lifting up her shirt and showing all of us a huge scar crossing her stomach. They sponsor events, beauty pageants, and English classes, and are invited to international conferences. Lately they have been very busy responding to requests from local and international media. Their vice-president, Laura Maria, is an enthusiastic and cheerful veteran of prostitution.
