Identidades in English No 3, September 2014 | Page 25

the Brazilian government’s hypocrisy regarding
sexual tourism because—no efficient measure
was taken to combat it prior to the great event.
One of the T-shirt’s logos reads “I Love Brazil”
and shows the buttocks of a woman wearing a
“tonga” bikini. Another says “Looking to Score
in Brazil.” Both amply evidence the sexual and
stimulating message about sexual tourism in the
country3, especially in the northeastern region, in
the capitals Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza and Natal.
Since soccer is a male sport primarily, the meaning of these T-shirt images proposes a sensualization of black women as is present in the classic
book Casa-Grande e Senzala [The Masters and
The Slaves], by Gilberto Freyre (1933), and in
Sargentelli’s work right in his own samba school.
Once again, the clothing suggests nudity and sensuality, and announces the availability of these
women as an attraction for tourists.

Figure 1. Brasilia, São Paulo. 2014
The goal of this article is to expose the Brazilian
government’s negligence regarding the sexual
tourism official agencies encourage, and thus
highlight the very same government’s tangible
hypocrisy when it comes to the subject of prostitution. It is important to note the Federal Government’s association with Aspromig (Association of
Prostitutes of Minas Gerais), which came about
through the efforts of the Soccer World Cup and
two official agencies belonging to the Sandrinha
Sargentelli Company. I will employ a few journalistic sources, Internet materials, YouTube videos, a movement that emerged in Fortaleza called
“What Do Women Have to Do With the World

Cup,” and the Popular National Committee for
the Cup. Before, though, I will offer a panoramic
review of the context in which the debate about
prostitution emerges before the upcoming World
Cup for sex professionals, according to CBO
(Brazilian Job Classification) No. 5198 – 05 Sex
Professionals, and the attempt there was to regulate prostitution. I will also present a brief history
about the importance for the Brazilian people of
General Law on the Cup, promulgated on June
12th.4
Context of debate about the regularization of
prostitution in Brazil
Prostitution is a legal profression in Brazil, but
there are also illegally functioning brothels. Many
times it is adult women who suffer abuse at the
hands of their pimps and madams. If they go to
the authorities to complain about their exploitation, this can result in death for many of them.
They are often mistreated by their clients and receive no attention whatsoever from agencies that
defend citizens’ rights. Exploitation through prostitution is dealt with in two articles of the Penal
Code 277, which includes the phrase “induce anyone to satisfy another’s lust,” and 230, “which
punishes anyone who takes advantage of the prostitution of another.” Since 1995-2011, to regulate
this profession, ex-legislator Fernando Gabeira
(Green Party-Rio de Janeiro) has been interested
in extending labor laws to prostitutes. He presented a proposal to the House to legalize the profession, but it has been delayed and shelved ever
since he left the House, and in 2012, it received a
new relator.
In 2012, legislator Jean Wyllys (Socialism and
Freedom Party – Rio de Janeiro) took up the proposal and presented it as proposed Law No. 4211,
of the Gabriela Law.5 It was similar to the earlier
one but was more inclusive by including male
prostitutes, escorts, transvestites and transexual
women. It was considered, but is still awaiting a
vote and approval. It’s presenter expected the law
to be approved by 2014, given its importance. For
him, the exploitation and sexual tourism going on
in Brazil tended to worsen with the coming of the

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