As I walked through Paquis...

I walked through Paquis today, which is something I don't do very often since I don't live around that area, and because there's nothing specific that draws me there.
Paquis is known for a number of things: the numerous Asian and Middle eastern restaurants, the water pipe bars, the number of hotels and last but not least the red light district.

The red light district is remarkably extensive, active and thriving for a city of Geneva's size (about 300 000 inhabitants if I'm not wrong). And it doesn't exactly take a genius to figure out why... The hookers and strippers of Geneva have the UN, the banking industry and well, the business world, to thank for their busy careers. I've never seen quite so many banks anywhere else where I've been, and I've never seen quite so many middle aged men in suits in the same place before. It's logical that there will be numerous sex clubs where you find a large number of men in suits on business trips.
Still, the openness of it and the extensiveness amazes me! I think that it actually amazes me more than it upsets me, even though I do find it sad and upsetting to witness this trade of human dignity.
As I walked through Paquis today I deliberately chose the streets with the most women-standing-in-doorways-and-outside-sex clubs, because they fascinate me, and if I'd dared to I'd just stand there and stare at them until I got fed up with it. But hey, I don't want to be rude.
I've seen it at night, which is hardly surprising, although I still find it strangely fascinating.
But this time it was 2 pm, sunshine and boiling hot. And the girls were still there, dressed down, made up and ready to go back inside for a hand full of cash. I don't know what I find most fascinating in this situation - the fact that some men actually find the time, the nerve and most of all the drive to go fucking during their lunch break in 30 degree heat and broad daylight (especially considering the fact that they're wearing suits), or the fact that someone would consider wearing a black latex dress during the hottest hours of the day in this weather! I frankly hadn't expected to see prostitution so openly displayed on the way back from my lunch meeting!
I did my best to observe the women-on-display as thoroughly as I could as I past them, thinking that they wouldn't be able to tell that I was staring so obsessively at them since I was wearing sun glasses. They probably wouldn't care, but it would make me feel stupid.
I wanted to see if I could trace pain and disillusion from the look in their eyes or from some other give away. But I couldn't. Not that I went up to them that closely. I would like to know what they really feel though, why they do it; if it affects them as strongly as I think it does. One of the girls I saw looked really young, still a teenager I assume. Not only that, but she also looked kind of unspoiled and tidy, like she was in completely the wrong environment. She was wearing some tight and slutty outfit, and looked a bit insecure like it was the first day at work, smiling and giggling at the girl next to her, trying to copy her posture. It made me sad to watch her, but also extremely interested in knowing more about her decision. If I'd been brave/drunk/insane enough I'd go up to her and ask. But I'm a sane coward and had pepsi max with my lunch.