Prostitution in Jamaica
Encyclopedia
Prostitution in practice
Female prostitutes solicit from their homes or join customers in their hotel rooms or private homes. A number of prostitutes dance in adult night clubs and a percentage of them are from other countries. These imported prostitutes work in the more sophisticated night clubs in KingstonKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, which cater mainly to tourists, foreign workers, diplomats and affluent locals. Other clubs have mostly local prostitutes, some of whom have regular day jobs.
Massage parlours in Jamaica sometimes operate as fronts for brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
s. These are well advertised in local pornographic magazines and in official newspapers.
Gay prostitutes can be found working in hotels as entertainment coordinators. Blatant male prostitution is rare; due to the homophobic nature of the country, male prostitutes generally conduct their business in more subtle ways. It is not un-heard of, however, that male prostitutes have been seen soliciting in the streets.
In the tourist areas of Montego Bay and Ochio Rios, prostitutes, and other citizens, sometimes solicit themselves in the hopes of gaining a connection via their client, with whom they will later travel, to a First World country. Sexual favors are often the result and money will be exchanged. Some of these result in long-term relationships.
Child prostitution
Economic difficulties and social pressures contribute to the prevalence of child prostitution. A 2001 study funded by ILO-IPEC found that children as young as 10 years old engage in prostitution catering to tourists. Young girls are hired by “go-go” clubs or massage parlors. Children are trafficked internally for sexual exploitation. Street childrenStreet children
A street child is a child who lives on the streets of a city, deprived of family care and protection. Most children on the streets are between the ages of about 5 and 17 years old.Street children live in junk boxes, parks or on the street itself...
engage in prostitution.