Crossing Continents

Colombia's webcam women


Listen Later

Colombia’s second largest city, Medellín, is booming and one of the biggest industries revolves around the city’s live webcam studios which stream women performing sex acts. 

It’s estimated there are hundreds of studios in the city employing thousands of women and turning over millions of pounds as men – primarily in the US and Europe – pay to watch the women perform.

The work is legal with studios running glossy websites to attract models - and even hosting their own annual trade show. Though despite its success, Colombia's president has himself criticised the country's burgeoning industry.

Sofia Bettiza meets two women with contrasting experiences of the webcam business, and asks if their  work is exploitation - or a pragmatic way to earn a living in a country where wages for women are often low and where opportunities are limited.

Presented and produced by Sofia Bettiza

Produced by Bob Howard
Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy and Richard Fenton-Smith

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Crossing ContinentsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

74 ratings


More shows like Crossing Continents

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,463 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

367 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,816 Listeners

File on 4 Investigates by BBC Radio 4

File on 4 Investigates

40 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

156 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,696 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

301 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

106 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

499 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,812 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,107 Listeners

The Bottom Line by BBC Radio 4

The Bottom Line

34 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

896 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

957 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,947 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,060 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

47 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

70 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

842 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

744 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

57 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,196 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,159 Listeners

The Great Post Office Trial by BBC Radio 4

The Great Post Office Trial

36 Listeners