In 2014, it was revealed that a first-year student at Duke University was moonlighting as an adult film star in order to cover tuition costs. Initially, the student wrote an anonymous post for the blog xoJane explaining her choice to be an adult film star. However, she was quickly identified by a male classmate, and the campus lost its mind.
The girl received hundreds of friend requests on Facebook by students who were desperate to “have sex with a real porn star.” She was harassed both in her classes and online and mercilessly criticized for her choice. Furthermore, the student no longer qualified for financial aid at Duke due to her increased income. While this woman’s story may seem unique, it actually is not. There are over 1,000,000 women in the United States who, at some point in their lives, have been a part of the sex work industry. This could be anything from being in an adult film, to exotic dancing or being an escort.
The industry makes up a decent portion of the workforce and our economy. Unfortunately, we live in a world where this kind of work is heavily stigmatized. Those in the sex work industry are intensely criticized for their choices, and their profession is often used as a justification for abuse and assault.
Sex work can be incredibly empowering, and choosing to engage in the industry can be incredibly liberating. Many women who participate in sex work do so for supplemental income or as a temporary way to make money. Even if it is their full-time career, it can still be a lucrative and valid way to make money and support oneself.
Regardless of someone’s reason for being in the sex work industry, the profession itself is still often invalidated and marked as “not real work.” In fact, sex work is one of the most physically and mentally grueling professions that exists. To deal with constant harassment (both mental and physical) is admirable and an extremely prominent aspect of such work.
The representation of female sex workers in popular media portrays them as dead-beats, drug addicts, or girls who “have just lost their way.” These women are portrayed as props in films and television, sent in to break up a marriage or end a friendship.
They are the categorical “damsels in distress” who are always in need of rescuing, which is usually done by a wealthy white male character.
Meanwhile, male sex workers are glorified in films like Magic Mike and are given personalities, morals and happy endings. Additionally, these men get to be proud of the work that they do, and this pride is celebrated throughout the film. Their foray into sex work is seen as intentional and temporary, and it is clear that they still have space to pursue their dreams in the future.
This view of female sex workers is extremely sexist and plays into the misogynistic narrative that is so prevalent in this country. Women are constantly criticized for their choices regarding their sex lives, while men are praised regardless of their actions.
The reality is that sex work is real work. And it is a respectable way to have ownership over your body and support yourself financially.
The rhetoric around sex work in this country needs to shift to support women who are making a living in the ways that they want to.
