Prostitution and illegal activities among low-income travestis

Abstract

This article analyses the influence of prostitution and illegal activities in the formation of identity among low income travesties. In the first part, we discuss their relationship with clients, showing the assimilation of two different identities by them: the "puta" ["whore"] and the "malandro" ["rogue"]. In the second, we propose that the illegal activities that travestis take part are related to economic difficulties and drug abuse, but also are consequences of the social incrimination process directed to them in Brazil, which make them assimilate fragments of the 'bandido" ["bandit"] identity in their "patchwork" one.