A sanky-panky or sanky is a

male Male (Planet symbols, symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or Egg cell, ovum, in the process of fertilisation. A male organism cannot sexual repro ...

sex worker A sex worker is a person who provides sex work, either on a regular or occasional basis. The term is used in reference to those who work in all areas of the sex industry.Oxford English Dictionary, "sex worker" According to one view, sex work is ...

, found in the

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...

. A sanky-panky solicits on beaches and has clients of either both sexes or only women. When with men, the sanky-panky assumes an active (a.k.a.

top Top most commonly refers to: * Top, a basic term of orientation, distinguished from bottom, front, back, and sides * Spinning top, a ubiquitous traditional toy * Top (clothing), clothing designed to be worn over the torso * Mountain top, a moun ...

) role, but when with women, assumes the role of an ideal lover. While strictly speaking they are not

prostitutes Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-p ...

, since they do not directly negotiate money for sex, sanky-pankies are more likely to develop a pseudo-relationship which can be continued after the guest returns home. They then might attempt to ask for

money Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money are: m ...

to be sent to them primarily by

wire transfer Wire transfer, bank transfer, or credit transfer, is a method of electronic funds transfer from one person or entity to another. A wire transfer can be made from one bank account to another bank account, or through a transfer of cash at a cash ...

, often using elaborate stories of need, involving (for example) sick relatives. A sanky's ultimate goal is often to obtain a

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

visa to the tourist's native country, and marry the tourist before abandoning her. Another word used for a sanky panky is ''chapeador'' (or chapi chapi) A lady is called a ''chapeadora''. This word is derived from the verb "chapear" (to trim or cut, especially with a machete).

Bricheros

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

they are known as ''bricheros'' (who are male and usually target female tourists) and ''bricheras'' (who are females targeting male tourists). They frequent popular tourist destinations and may involve themselves in tourist businesses in order to solicit customers.

"Puta-Tour"

In certain tourist cities of

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

, and specially in the city of Mérida, women following a similar pattern of conduct are known as "Puta-Tour," a pejorative term associated with travel-based prostitution. Nevertheless, there are cases where sexual intercourse is never consummated and long term friendships are the result. Such women usually target White American and European tourists, primarily in the interest of learning and/or practicing a foreign language other than Spanish, serving also as hosts and tourist guides, but with the expectation of being invited to travel to the tourist's native country. These relationships can range from friendship to marriage, and are based on cultural interchange and travel, supported by the foreign tourist.

Sanky-pankies in popular culture

The persona of the "sanky panky" was brought to the cinema in 2007 by Spanish director Jose E. Pintor. In his comedic film entitled '' Sanky Panky'', audiences follow the life of a young Dominican man named Genaro (played by Dominican comedian Fausto Mata) who, thanks to his childhood friend Giuseppe (Massimo Borghetti), the manager of a hotel chain, travels to Bávaro to work at a

resort A resort (North American English) is a self-contained commercial establishment that aims to provide most of a vacationer's needs. This includes food, drink, swimming, accommodation, sports, entertainment and shopping, on the premises. A hotel ...

in hopes of finding a "gringa" (or

white American White Americans (sometimes also called Caucasian Americans) are Americans who identify as white people. In a more official sense, the United States Census Bureau, which collects demographic data on Americans, defines "white" as " person having ...

woman) who will give him a visa. In the process, he meets a young heartbroken woman and her two older and oversexed aunts. The story that follows highlights the attractions of Dominican resorts but also portrays the realities of

poverty Poverty is a state or condition in which an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living. Poverty can have diverse Biophysical environmen ...

in the

, while immortalizing the figure of the "sanky panky" via the medium of a major

motion picture A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, since ...

. A film that explores this topic in a

Francophone The Francophonie or Francophone world is the whole body of people and organisations around the world who use the French language regularly for private or public purposes. The term was coined by Onésime Reclus in 1880 and became important a ...

context is '' Heading South''.

References

External links

"Women seeking beach boys"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanky-panky Intimate relationships Male prostitutes by type Works about prostitution in the Dominican Republic Sex industry