-
How to be an ally to sex workers
-Today I had a very deep conversation with my close friend and partner about sex workers, their mental health, and their rights. They brought up many points that inspired me to think further about some issues, and so I decided to do some research when I got home. Unfortunately, sex work advocacy is in its infancy and the research seems to be few and far between. Here is “How To Be An Ally To Sex Workers”-
Be An Ally1.) Don’t Assume. Don’t assume you know why a person is in the sex industry. We’re not all trafficked or victims of abuse. Some people make a choice to enter this industry because they enjoy it, others may be struggling for money and have less of a choice.
2.) Be Discreet and Respect Personal Boundaries. If you know a sex worker, it’s OK to engage in conversation in dialogue with them in private, but respect their privacy surrounding their work in public settings. Don’t ask personal questions such as “does your family know what you do?” If a sex worker is not “out” to their friends, family, or co-workers, it’s not your place to tell everyone what they do.
3.) Don’t Judge. Know your own prejudices and realize that not everyone shares the same opinions as you. Whether you think sex work is a dangerous and exploitative profession or not is irrelevant compared to the actual experiences of the person who works in the industry. It’s not your place to pass judgment on how another person earns the money they need to survive.
4.) Watch Your Language. Cracking jokes or using derogatory terms such as “hooker”, “whore”, “slut”, or “ho” is not acceptable. While some sex workers have “taken back” these words and use them among themselves, they are usually used to demean sex workers when spoken by outsiders.
5.) Address Your Prejudices. If you have a deep bias or underlying fear that all sex workers are bad people and/or full of diseases, then perhaps these are issues within yourself that you need to address. In fact, the majority of sex workers practice safer sex than their peers and get tested regularly.
6.) Don’t Play Rescuer. Not all sex workers are trying to get out of the industry or in need of help. Ask them what they need, but not everyone is looking for “Captain Save-A-Ho” or the “Pretty Woman” ending.
7.) If you are a client or patron of sex workers, be respectful of boundaries. You’re buying a service, not a person. Don’t ask for real names, call at all hours of the day/night, or think that your favorite sex worker is going to enter into a relationship with you off the clock.
8.) Do Your Own Research. Most mainstream media is biased against sex workers and the statistics you read in the news about the sex industry are usually inaccurate. Be critical of what you read or hear and educate yourself on who exactly is transmitting diseases or being trafficked.
9.) Respect that Sex Work is Real Work. There’s a set of professional skills involved and it’s not necessarily an industry that everyone can enter into. Don’t tell someone to get a “real job” when they already have one that suits them just fine.
10.) Just because someone is a sex worker doesn’t mean they will have sex with you. Not matter what area of the sex industry that someone works in, don’t assume that they are promiscuous and willing to have sex with anyone at any time.
11.) Be Supportive and Share Resources. If you know of someone who is new to the industry or in an abusive situation with an employer, by all means offer advice and support without being condescending. Some people do enter into the sex industry without educating themselves about what they are getting into and may need help. Despite the situation, calling the police is usually never a good option. Try to find other organizations that are sensitive to the needs of sex workers by contacting the organizations listed below.
12.) As you learn the above things, stand up for sex workers when conversations happen. Share your personal stories if you so choose. Don’t let the stigma, bigotry and shame around sex work continue. Remember it’s important that sex workers be allowed to speak for themselves and for allies to not speak for sex workers but to speak with sex workers.
Realize that sex work transcends ‘visible’ notions of race, gender, class, sexuality, education, and identities; sex workers are your sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, lovers, neighbors, and friends. Respect them!
As a sex worker, this is relevant to my interests.
I would also like to add the following:
13.) Sex work encompasses a lot more than just hanging out on a street corner. Phone sex operators are sex workers. Cam models are sex workers. Strippers are sex workers. Professional dominants and submissives are sex workers. So are escorts, courtesans, street-level sex workers, porn actors and a variety of other professions. You do not have to have any physical contact with a client in order for your profession to be considered sex work.
14.) One type of sex work is not more “legitimate” than another. Just because some sex work is legal does not make it any more “acceptable” or “legitimate” than those that are not. And, if you think it does, fuck you (and not in the good way).
I encourage everyone to read this. I compleatly agree with #4, words like hooker, whore, slut, ho etc. get thrown into everyday conversation like its cool. These are hurtful words that are too often used to describe women* who embrace their sex/sexuality.
I got into an argument back in High School with a dude who was insistent that it’s okay to beat a sex worker because, they shouldn’t be doing that type of work anyway and that’s what comes with the territory. My question is, do you beat your dry cleaner? Your hair dresser? The person at the check out counter? No. So why the fuck do you think that it’s on okay to beat a sex worker!? They are someone’s daughers, sister or mother and you should show them the same respect you would your dry cleaner.
*I know that not only women can be sex workers, I’m just used to this being a women centered topic, so yha. I’m working on expending my thinking.
(Source: sexwork101.com)
