Gringo Love: Stories of Sex Tourism in Brazil

In the city of Natal in northeastern Brazil, several local women negotiate the terms of their intimate relationships with foreign tourists, or gringos, in a situation often referred to as "sex tourism." These women have different experiences, but they share a similar desire to "escape" the social conditions of their lives in Brazil.

Based on original ethnographic research and presented in graphic form, Gringo Love explores the hopes, dreams, and realities of these women against a backdrop of deep social inequality and increasing state surveillance leading up to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. It touches on important contemporary issues, including sexual economics, transnational mobility, romantic imaginaries, gender representation, race and inequality, and visual methods.

The graphic story is accompanied by analysis and contextual discussion, which encourage readers to engage with the narrative and expand their understanding of the broader social issues therein.

ISBN: 9781487594527
Format: Paperback
Pages: 200
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Published: July 25, 2020

"This graphic novel is a much needed addition to libraries. There are a lot of books out there that vilify people in this industry, and it is important for people to view this subject from another point of view.""Gringo Love boldly does something less common in anthropology: it uses an experimental visual medium and a collaborative process based on generously shared time and stories to tell a reality-based tale that complicates and broadens the space in which a politicized and controversial practice can be understood. By visualizing those often made invisible in the mainstream discourse of sex tourism, Carrier-Moisan and her collaborators bring us into lives on the ground."