I have been wrestling with he initial premise of this forum late. My conclusion is that I trust her word 99% of the time and don't trust it 1%. Seems like a lot of trust, but the emotional consequences of that 1% have a disproportionate impact on my emotional response. So even though she is mature and not likely to find another western gentleman who is respectful and reasonably generous with her family, I can get very upset by the trust-not trust dilemma with my focus on the not-trust 1%.
She and I had been in a committed relationship for almost 4 years, although we lived about 10000 kms apart and saw each other 4 times a year.
She is a 41 year old Filipina ladyboy with a dynamite body, a lovely smile, and a very adventuresome spirit. We met when she was an escort and twice during our 4 years together she has placed ads online to attract business because the allowance that I was sending her was insufficient to meet her financial needs. (She can still turn heads and attract clients if she wants.)
Interesting side note: I discovered her first ad because her client posted photos on his Facebook account and they showed up on the Mixed Nuts Facebook page that he and I were both connected to. I discovered the second ad, two years later, when another Manila ladyboy that I knew, ratted her out. No honor amongst ......
But I digress.
The reality in my situation was that she is very devoted to the welfare of her family. If she gets money from any source, she rarely spends it on herself. And because her family is poor, this is almost a survival issue. I know that she does not enjoy being an escort, but both she and her ladyboy sister will do it in order to fulfill their responsibilities to their family.
The Lesson:
What the relationship led me to conclude is that if we enter into committed relationships with ladyboys, and more specifically those who were/are escorts, we are going to have lots of doubts. If we don't, I think we are being foolish and unrealistic. Or, we are managing our expectations so as not to be hurt or surprised. But these ladyboys are all human beings and many of them that I have met are struggling economically with no other career opportunities. They are human beings struggling to survive.
As one who worships at the altars of Charles Darwin and Adam Smith, I have to respect that, regardless of how much it might distress me.
If her choice is between no food on the table because of concerns about my emotional state, versus food on the table because she fucked one of you miscreants, she better take you and she better tell me the juicy details.
Just be nice and respectful to that very special human being.