ECONOMIA (ECONOMY)

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America and due to the extreme rate of poverty, several people turn to alternative and illegal ways to making a living and providing for their families. Some of these illegal actions include the soliciting of drugs like cocaine and human trafficking.

Shockingly, Bolivia is the number one producer of the coca plant, then which is turned into cocaine. It is said that approximately 1/3 of the world's cocaine is produced from coca grown in Bolivia.

Typically, the majority of human trafficking victims are women and children, which are almost always unwillingly and illegally transported into countries with high tourist appeal like Mexico and Brazil. Human trafficking most often occurs for purposes of illegal adoption, sexual exploitation, slavery, and organ transplantation.

MUJERES (WOMEN)

As witnessed in many developing countries, women of Bolivia do not typically hold an equal social status as those of their male counterparts. Women are less likely to be educated, therefore leaving them less aware of their rights. Ironically enough, women play a very important role in organizing the household and helping the economy.

Luckily, some Bolivian women have learned to gain respect over the past few hundred years through the sport of wrestling. These women of refer to themselves as "cholitas."

During a wrestling match cholitas may be found sporting colorful garments in shades of red, yellow, blue, and green. In a highly male dominated society cholitas have found respect and serve as somewhat of a respite for sexual objectification, as they are not looked upon as sex symbols such as you may find many female entertainers in more developed countries.

IDIOMA Y RELIGION (LANGUAGE & RELIGION)

The most common language spoken in Bolivia is Spanish, although in many rural areas indigenous tribes may still be witnessed practicing their native languages like Quechua and Guarani.









The majority of Bolivian's practice Christianity. Other religions like Judaism and the religions of native indigenous tribes are rare. The most prominent denomination is Catholicism.

BOLIVIA

Bolivia, a country as diverse in culture as it is geographically, is one of the poorest countries in America del Sur. Its history spans back centuries to the time of the Inca civilization, to present day where the blood line may still be found in the Quechua and other indigenous peoples. A previous war with Chile has caused the country to become landlocked between Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru, along with the loss of access to the sea. This land lock has tremendously faltered the overall economy of the country by inflating the cost of having to solely transport goods like iron, silver and gold, natural gas and petroleum, and tin to name a few across land, leaving the country's people to face extreme poverty for decades.