There’s No Shame In Sex Work

BY HELENA HAYNES

In a day and age where talking about sex has become more and more normalized, you would think that the stigma around sex work would be fading. Unfortunately, this is very far from our current reality. Even though our society is gradually becoming more accepting, sex work is still a taboo topic that people like to poke fun at or simply avoid altogether.

Insensitive comments and microagressions relating to sex work are far too common. Oftentimes, people don’t realize how disrespectful their words can be and how much it is perpetuating the stigma. Sex workers take their jobs seriously, and just like the rest of us, they use the money they make to support themselves and their families. Despite this, they are still harassed and put in danger due to the way society views them.

It’s more than likely that you’ve heard a joke along the lines of, “If all else fails, I’ll just become a stripper.” Although stripping may not require a college degree like some other professions, the reality of sex work as a career path is ignored when people make these remarks. For many people in this industry, sex work helps them fund their education or some of their living expenses, and for some, it is their sole career path of choice. Someone’s profession and source of income should not be laughed at as a backup plan for those of us who are not choosing to go into this industry. The act of watching porn is stigmatized, even though a majority of both men and women have viewed pornographic content at some point in their adult lives. In fact, Psychology Today reports that PornHub is the world’s 36th most popular website. The same people who have benefited from porn and other content produced by sex workers also choose to reinforce the shame associated with this career path. “It is truly disheartening the number of people that do judge based off of stereotypes,” Chris Nagle, owner of The End Zone Show/Sports Club says. “Especially since so many of them are hypocrites that indulge in these young ladies’ beauty behind closed doors (professors, politicians, business men and women, celebrities, professional athletes, etc.). Then out of fear of being shamed themselves for doing so, talk down on them or pass legislation restricting their freedom of expression.” In plenty of countries, the stigma around sex work is not the only problem. Many sex workers deal with the criminalization of their profession, which can lead to an even greater stigma and a danger for the workers themselves. Human Rights Watch has consistently found that in nations where sex work is criminalized, sex workers are more likely to be victims of violence, rape, assault and even murder.

Due to the criminalization of prostitution, many sex workers do not feel comfortable reporting the violence against them. People in power hold strong biases against these workers, making it even harder for them to receive help. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, sex workers are about three times more likely to experience sexual assault. They are also susceptible to violence from police officers. 27% of respondents from the Urban Justice Center “Sex Workers Project,” based in New York City, are reported to be victims of violence at the hands of the police.

There are some parts of the world where the lack of criminalization creates a safer environment for the workers. Amsterdam, for example, does not criminalize sex work and requires sex workers to be licensed. This city still has more they can do to help their sex workers, but they have succeeded in creating an environment where it is more normal-

ized and regulated. Sex workers face the unfortunate choice of keeping this part of their life a secret or facing what will happen if they go public about their profession. Either way, there are major downsides — solely because of the stigma and the stereotypes about sex workers that are constantly perpetuated.

Twitter user @LittleMissAngr1, a sex worker with over 45,000 followers, tweeted about why she chose to be an “out” sex worker.

“I wish I could say the reasons didn’t include the absolute stress of the constant threat of being doxxed or blackmailed or threatened. But it very much does. I took a trade-off. I chose to take on the stigma instead.”

Over the past few years, OnlyFans has been a popular way for people to break into the adult entertainment industry. Even though it provides creators with flexibility regarding the content they produce and gives the option of anonymity, many OnlyFans content producers have still been berated by others on social media.

This harassment is commonly seen coming from men on social platforms such as Twitter. These men degrade OnlyFans creators — emphasizing that they are “selling their bodies.” This kind of rhetoric is what ultimately enforces the stigma that sex workers are doing something “wrong” by society’s standards. The more that people push the idea that sex workers are earning their money in a way that should not be respected, the further we are getting from an environment that is safe for these professionals.

The bottom line is that sex workers are doing their job for many of the same reasons that you’re doing yours. Whether it’s to pay for their education, support a family or have an extra stream of income, they should not have to justify their choices regarding how they make their money. Working to get rid of the stigma is one step toward decriminalizing many forms of sex work, which will decrease harassment and violence against these workers.

According to Tim Robicheaux, Penn State associate professor of sociology and criminology, there are a few ways to decrease a stigma, whether it’s about sex work or other stigmatized topics.

“Education, protest and exposure are three key means of reducing stigma. Learning more about any stigmatized trait can help people to view that trait more naturalistically and without judgment,” Robicheaux says. “These days, some sex workers are open about their professions. They let us know that they perceive themselves to be normal people with unconventional jobs. That’s exposure.”

We may never get to a place where sex work is completely destigmatized, but we as a society can do as much we can to push forward and become more accepting as a whole. Making an effort to increase your own understanding and awareness is the first step you can make to join this fight. Break down the microaggressions, choose your rhetoric wisely, fight for decriminalization and work to create a more accepting and safe environment for everyone, no matter where their income is coming from.