The realities of sex work
The reality of sex work will vary from one person to the next so I can only go by my own experiences. But one thing I will say is that a lot of the ladies that I worked with also had positive experiences and loved their job as a sex worker as much as I did.
The sex industry is the most unpredictable industry that I have ever worked in. Some days I’d be rushed off my feet. Other days, tumbleweed. I learnt to take the rough with the smooth. As I gained more experience, I realised that the wise thing to do during those busy weeks was to nestle those finances away rather than blow them all like I did when I was in my early 20s. And into my final years, during the ‘tumbleweed’ weeks, I turned to reading which is when things really began to change. When I began educating myself. Reading empowered me.
A regular day would begin with a stock check; condoms, lube, and baby wipes were essentials. Most mornings I’d take myself out for a walk or do a class at the gym before beginning my shift around lunchtime and finishing around 10pm. Some days I’d get twenty minutes notice for a booking, other days a few hours. It really was a job that was varied depending on the time of year, time of day and day of the week. There was no set formula. Sometimes it was just something in the air. On top of the above, regular lingerie shops, regular STI checks and new professional photos every six months became a part of my regime as well as keeping on top of my accounts every couple of months.
The reality for many sex workers really is helping people. It is a form of therapy. It is part of our job to be professional, friendly, leave all our crap behind and show the best parts of ourselves. In that sense, working as a sex worker, is an acting job.
Drugs and alcohol come with the territory and there is pressure from some agencies to participate. We can be seen as ‘difficult’ for saying no. But I am living proof that the job can be done through sober eyes because I did the job for the best part of two years, sober. The thing that surprised me most was the number of clients I began to attract who were also sober, when I started saying ‘no.’ Like really does attract like. The law of attraction works.
I’ve met a lot of sex workers who enjoy the job and have lovely clients but feel they have to hide who they are due to shame and the risk of being abused. When you work as a sex worker, you can’t attend a social event like a regular person. Especially if you are surrounded by people who don’t know what you do for a living. You can’t relax. You have to be on guard. Almost better not to attend those events and isolate yourself. All sex workers really want is acceptance. Not judgement and ridicule and to be made to feel like a bad person for doing a job that they enjoy and is essentially helping people.
Comments are closed.