Difference between revisions of "Mulas (Cuba)"

A complex coordination network between stores, hotels, hostels, rental houses targeting Cuban ''mulas'' has been operational in the receiving countries. The groups of informal couriers have become the main suppliers for both small businesses and common citizens. ''Negociantes'' take care of the whole process, from soliciting visas, if needed, to arranging all aspects of ''mulas’'' stay in a foreign country, such as accommodation and transport from and to the airport. They buy or rent seasonal clothes for their team of ''mulas'' so that they can travel without personal items and use the luggage allowance for business instead. Being a ''negociante'' involves not only an investment of a substantial financial capital, but also a mastery of equally substantial ''confianza'' (trust from familiarity), the ''negociantes’'' social capital.

A complex coordination network between stores, hotels, hostels, rental houses targeting Cuban ''mulas'' has been operational in the receiving countries. The groups of informal couriers have become the main suppliers for both small businesses and common citizens. ''Negociantes'' take care of the whole process, from soliciting visas, if needed, to arranging all aspects of ''mulas’'' stay in a foreign country, such as accommodation and transport from and to the airport. They buy or rent seasonal clothes for their team of ''mulas'' so that they can travel without personal items and use the luggage allowance for business instead. Being a ''negociante'' involves not only an investment of a substantial financial capital, but also a mastery of equally substantial ''confianza'' (trust from familiarity), the ''negociantes’'' social capital.

Opinions on profiling ''mulas'' differ significantly. In author’s research, ''mulas'' tend to be women, while Cearns emphasizes the role of young men, who start as ''mulas'' while aiming to become ''negociantes'' (Cearns 2019: 888). Similar to the discussion of gender roles in post-socialist shuttle trading around [[chelnoki]], the roles that require mass border crossing involve women, while ''negociantes'', the ''mula''-bosses who are in charge of organizing the trip and protecting the team members, are more likely to be men.

Opinions on profiling ''mulas'' differ significantly. In author’s research, ''mulas'' tend to be women, while Cearns emphasizes the role of young men, who start as ''mulas'' while aiming to become ''negociantes'' (Cearns 2019: 888). Similar to the discussion of gender roles in post-socialist shuttle trading around [[chelnoki]], the roles that require mass border crossing involve women, while ''negociantes'', the ''mula''-bosses who are in charge of organizing the trip and protecting the team members, are more likely to be men.