Chinese sex workers in Cameroon seen as ‘cheap goods’

The economic and political dimensions of China’s increasing engagement in Africa are widely debated, but less attention is paid to the social and cultural dimensions. What are the social implications of the growing number of Chinese sex workers in Cameroon?

Chinese migrant sex workers in Cameroon are referred to locally as ‘Shanghai beauties’.  Recent research examines local attitudes towards them, and analyses the changes in Chinese prostitution in the country over time through a number of case studies in the city of Douala.

There have been two key phases of Chinese prostitution in Cameroon. The first phase, which began around the mid 1980s, involved a steady inflow of female Chinese sex workers whose clients were almost exclusively Chinese migrant workers: typically young, single men working on Chinese funded construction projects.

In the second, current phase – which began in the early 2000s – the researcher argues that Chinese migrant sex workers have become part of the wider phenomenon of the influx of cheap Chinese goods and services into Africa.

The researcher shows how current Chinese prostitution in Cameroon operates at two different levels: cheap and more expensive. Many Chinese sex workers sell their services cheaply to local working class men and poor Chinese migrant workers. These women generally operate in poor neighbourhoods of the big cities.

At the other end of the scale, some Chinese sex workers offer higher-priced services to local middle class men and western expatriates and tourists. These women tend to operate in luxury hotels, casinos and expensive restaurants. They are generally less exposed to abuse and exploitation than other sex workers.

Key findings of the research include:

• The early phase of Chinese prostitution in Cameroon developed within the framework of China’s overseas aid programme.
• The later, current phase is linked to China-Africa trade patterns, particularly China’s new business migration towards Africa.
• Chinese prostitution in Cameroon reproduces the social and economic stratifications of Cameroonian society.
• Some Chinese prostitution has become more visible, with some sex workers operating on the streets.
• But most remains invisible or underground, with sex workers operating in hidden spaces such as private flats or the private rooms of Chinese shops and restaurants.
• The perception of Chinese prostitutes among local men has shifted radically from exotic, beautiful and sexually sophisticated to cheap, passive and sexually conservative.

The researcher shows how local attitudes in Cameroon towards Chinese sex workers reflect the more general attitude towards Chinese goods and services: that they are cheap, low quality and represent unfair competition for local workers.

The researcher concludes that:

• Chinese prostitution in Cameroon has essentially become commoditised in a similar way to the trade in cheap manufactured goods.
• Because prostitution is an accessible option for low-skilled female Cameroonians, Chinese sex workers represent competition for local workers.
• Chinese sex workers are beginning to experience the same kind of opposition and resentment as Chinese small scale producers and retailers in Cameroon and other African countries.  

Source(s):
‘“Shanghai Beauties” and African Desires: Migration, Trade and Chinese Prostitution in Cameroon’, European Journal of Development Research, Special Issue 24 (1), by Basile Ndjio, 2009

id21 Research Highlight: 3 August 2009

Further Information:
Basile Ndjio
University of Yaounde
P O Box 337, Yaounde
Cameroon

Tel: +237 9641 3075 or +237 96166669
Contact the contributor:  bndjio@yahoo.com