Dominican Women

 Dominican Women

    Watching this documentary was definitely an eye-opener on the objectification and sexualization of women in the Dominican Republic. Women have been referred to as "prostituted" as they are forced into the industry by sheer demand and lacking other options. I was shocked that there is a public beach that essentially functions as a redlight district inhabited by male and female sex workers. It is the sad truth that some women have to move to selling their bodies when they run out of options in the Dominican. This is something that occurs all over the world but in the Dominican there seems to be a large presence of women essentially forced into sex work. Even in sex work some women make little to no money because men will often refuse to pay the women. Authorities won't even aid in this issue as they too are exploitative and corrupt and refuse to pay sex workers. Occupational hazards like STDs and domestic violence exist and are prevalent as well and contraceptives only began being used after HIV outbreaks.

    Women also struggle in terms of occupation, in education they make only 40 pesos per month and barely make enough money to feed themselves. Kids in schools are also starving, which makes me wonder how they're supposed to focus on education when they're quite literally going hungry. I feel that there needs to be an effort made at feeding the school children and paying the teachers in a similar way to the US. If a decent education system can be put in place that gives kids practical skills the unending cycle of poverty could be stopped at the root. Schools are often dangerous for women as they can easily be assaulted without consequence or authorities stepping in. In addition to students being fed they need to also feel safe in schools. Corruption needs to be snubbed and women need to be protected for the Dominican Republic to ever have hope of being a developed nation.

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