Within 30 minutes from entering the taxi, we arrive at La Coahuila (The Red Light District). Entering the area, you can clearly see that the hotels are meant to cater the visiting “Johns”. Since I carry a mirrorless camera with me everywhere I go, I sat on the passenger side of the taxi and began photographing the experience. The prostitutes can be seen standing on the streets and at the entrance of the shady hotels that resemble a scene out of the GTA video game. Our destination was recommended by the taxi driver. When he mentioned the location was Adelitas, it sounded familiar. I can remember people referring to the entire block of La Coahuila as “Adelitas”. Its been around since 1962, and is located on the street level next to a hotel. Adelitas is out in the open with a hype man working the door to attract the passersby to step right in.

Our taxi stopped in front of the club, where we were greeted by a heavyset, dark-skinned man. He was wearing a sombrero, a green Mexican soccer team jersey, and an apron where underneath the waist he revealed a long, sewn-in in cloth penis. We were escorted in with the promise of a great time. In his words-“Se la van a pasar bien chingon” with a big smile on his face. We walk in and passed some heavy red velvet curtains; it’s a full-on strip club scene. The women were on their hustle, dressed in miniskirts, lingerie or fully nude as they walked from one man to another. I ordered a gin and tonic. We got a seat a couple tables away from the main stage. After taking a couple of sips of my drink, a Colombian girl sat next to me and start making conversation. It was interesting to hear her hustle toward me. I began asking her what she was doing in TJ since she was from Colombia. Even though in the back of my mind, it was clear that she was looking to convert American Dollars to Mexican Pesos. Her responses to my questions were somewhat innocent. She said that she never dances on stage at Adelitas and that she was one of the few girls that do not walk around topless.

One of the waiters came over and asked me if I wanted to buy her a drink. I said “Sure” and he brought her back a Coronita (a smaller version of a Corona Beer) at an exaggerated price of $8 USD. It was funny because I unexpectedly reacted to the price asking, “Wait, why so much for a beer?” (thinking I was getting the tourist price). I had forgotten that you are also paying for the company. The girl smiled and told the waiter in Spanish, “Oh, he’s only joking.” Even though at the moment, I really wasn’t. I played along and was curious to hear what she had to say. After two rounds of drinks, I noticed she was getting comfortable because she was joking about how I was going to be her boyfriend and get her papers so that she can come to America. During this time, she stood up to flash her ass, asking me what I thought of her panties color choice and body. Her hustle was on point, add alcohol, her short dress, her Colombian accent, and you’re in trouble. I excused myself to join the group that I had arrived with and she moved on to the next “customer”.

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The women to men ratio was about even from what I noticed. Half of the women were either standing or caressing the men. Either by rubbing the men’s arms and shoulders or sitting on their laps with legs draped over them, while the men were comfortably seated. The men were clearly on the women’s turf at Adelitas and the women knew exactly how to keep the men entertained and wanting more. The women were in control of this establishment. A tight dress and heels are all that they needed to empty the men’s pockets. It reminded me of the scene from the Disney movie “The Little Mermaid”. When she washes up onto the shore, wearing what seems to be a potato sack tied with rope and not even being able to speak. A pretty girl, even in burlap, can easily become a princess and I’m sure the women at Adelitas hear those promises often.

I had walked in with my mirrorless camera inconspicuously on a shoulder strap. I began to take candid photographs once I was around my group of friends. I had not planned to photograph the experience. Once I was there and witnessed the environment, I had to take photos and worry about the risk later. As I would take pics of the scenario, I definitely noticed some people staring here and there. Yet, surprisingly they didn’t pay any mind and it surprised me that no one in the establishment had any phones out to snap pics or stories. The only “oh shit moment” was when one of the male servers saw me with the camera out. He told me, in Spanish, “Amigo, aqui no se puede sacar photos”. I played the tourist and put the camera to the side. Later, I resumed photographing once he moved from where our group had congregated. I think that due to the fact that we were buying “cubetas” (metal ice buckets of a dozen beers), he brushed it off with no real concern. So when things were clear, I just kept photographing.

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The age difference varied from middle-aged to young women. Adelitas is definitely an equal opportunity employer. Some of the women looked bored and tired- their feet up from walking around in heels all day, leaning up against a wall while others would joyfully walk around, flirt with men as if to be in a regular nightclub or bar. They see the men as prey, moving from one man to another in order to achieve their goal. That goal is to make money, especially when converting American Dollars to Pesos with the exchange rate in Mexico’s favor. Their sex appeal is the tool to gain a profit for themselves, the bar, and the hotel upstairs. From the moment you step inside Adelitas, you are paying for either a drink, a conversation, sex or all of the above. Some women would start off with a conversation leading up to the question of sex while others are straight to the point. The women are keeping Adelitas and the whole block for that matter in business. Only their choice of business is frowned upon by society. In a time when the current social movements are against the treatment of women as sexual objects, at Adelitas it is the complete opposite.

I found myself thinking; Who is looking out for these women’s well being? Who is speaking on their behalf? Where is their movement? No one is asking if they are suffering, being held against their will, having consideration for any type of struggle; either physical, mental or both. But seeing the amount of money that was changing hands from men to the female workers, it seems like the women at Adelitas would choose not to change anything. In fact, they probably want more visitors who bring in American dollars.

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Within a 3 ½ hour drive from Santa Ana CA, all of the current social movements are completely detached once we entered into Mexico. I wasn’t expecting to be able to photograph as much as I did inside of Adelitas. Shortly after a couple drinks, I knew this was an experience that had to be told from a certain point of view. I wouldn’t be writing about this if it wasn’t for the socially charged climate that America is going through which we are constantly reminded of on all forms of media.

There wasn’t a concern about any political movement as the women were hustling to make money in exchange for sexual favors. As men placed dollars in g-string’s, the women smiled as they circled the bar, stopping to ask each man in their way for a tip based on the striptease they had just performed on stage. The American dollar is valued higher than the Mexican peso which empowers the women at Adelitas to earn more money for their services. I’m not sure how many of the visitors at Adelitas know that prostitution is actually legal and regulated in Mexico. It is contained within certain parts of the city (minus the rouge prostitutes that still work the street corners). Knowing the laws of prostitution in Mexico would probably take away from the allure of the “Wild West” excitement when visiting Tijuana.

The visitors to La Coahuila are in a bubble of entitlement. They are immune to the social movements in America and the women at Adelitas use that detachment for their monetary advantage. Are there consequences at the end of their visit to Tijuana? Do they leave with a perception of Mexico as a land of no rules? Are they perceived as desperate people surrounded by drugs, crime, and rapists with the assumption that some are good people? Are the good people the ones who serve you drinks or those you pay for sexual favors? How can they learn to gain respect for Mexico after that and not just see it as a place to get wild and party? When I hear the current U.S. administration’s description of Mexico, it reminds me of someone who views Tijuana as a representation of the entire country. That’s like saying “Las Vegas represents all of America.”
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You have Camp Pendleton, a major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps, located in San Diego County which is only an hour drive from Tijuana. With year-round training for Marines and other branches of the U.S. military, Camp Pendleton offers a first-time visit to Mexico for many of the trainees. I don’t think that experience is focused on learning the culture of Mexico but a visit to let loose and party…then it’s back into Camp Pendleton for training in defending America.

The fact that Americans do not need to cross an ocean but merely drive into Tijuana, we can easily detach ourselves and disregard the American social and political movements. This allows us to become the “bad dudes” for a weekend trip. Then, its back home to the American way of life. This detachment seems irresponsible and hypocritical. There are many questions we need to ask ourselves in regard to living in a powerful country next to a so-called Third World country.

If America constantly enforces its own morals and ethics onto other countries, is it ok for the “Me Too” / “Women’s Rights” movements to stop at our border? We hear so much negative talk about Mexico in the media, but we are happy to visit when it’s a short drive away knowing our dollar will go far in whatever we choose to purchase. The American currency in our pocket becomes far more valuable in Mexico compared to the peso and we use that to take advantage of its economy and people.

When a Mexican citizen is applying for a Visa to enter America, they are interviewed and asked what their intentions are in entering the country. Maybe Mexico should also ask its visitors that same question when driving across their border.