RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian women are speaking out against the use of the word “prostitute” in reference to a 20-year-old woman who announced she would auction off her virginity to raise money for the homeless. Catarina Migliorini, a physical education student sold her virginity to an unnamed Japanese buyer in an online auction for $780,000, but now may have her passport revoked as a result. She was taking part in a highly controversial documentary by Australian film-maker Justin Sisely entitled “Virgins Wanted.” For women in the country, they say Migliorini should be allowed to do what she wants with her body and the media attacks, especially by non-mainstream American media have been insulting. “I think what we are seeing is that the media wants to bring controversy and using the word prostitute sells and gets people to their websites,” said Aliana, a 21-year-old university student, who added to Bikyamasr.com that “this is not prostitution. It is a woman's right to raise money using her body. She is not getting the money.” The young woman told Folha: “The winning bidder will be entitled to get at least an hour with me. More than that, it depends on the moment. “The buyer cannot act out fantasies, use sex toys, nothing. It is mandatory to use a condom and he can only take my virginity, nothing more. We can talk. But kissing, no. Kissing is not in the contract. “I imagine it will be a man older than me, but I'm not creating expectations," she added. The move has sparked concerns, with women's rights activists questioning the woman's methods and promoting sex instead of the cause. “She will likely raise a lot of money for the cause, but the reality is that selling your body for something should not be an idea that women get behind, whether or not it is for a good cause," social worker for battered women Maria Novia told Bikyamasr.com from Brasilia last month. Before going through with the action, Migliorini must have a gynecological examination to “prove that she is a virgin." Both she and the winning bidder will be tested for any sexually transmitted diseases. According to Fox News Latino the “event" will occur on board a flight from Australia to the United States in an effort to avoid any sex trade laws. But now, it might not happen at all, if the Brazilian government has anything to say of the matter.
