The Power and Need of the Sex Industry (and Why All Sex Work Is Work)
Sex work is work, and has been work for thousands of years, across the globe. It makes sense: sex is, and always has been, a driving force for humankind. Sex is good for you, and sex is enjoyable, so why does society tend to slut-shame sex workers and even go so far as causing them physical harm?
In Canada (according to Statistics Canada), “[b]etween 1991 and 2014, there were 294 homicides of sex workers. One in three (34%) homicides of sex workers remained unsolved; a much greater proportion than for homicides that did not involve a sex worker victim (20%).” So, if someone wants to hire a sex worker for sexual enjoyment or fulfillment, why would they be inclined to assault them? The answer isn’t simple, but it can be boiled down to a disturbing amount of hate and lack of sex positivity.
Of course, the topic of the sex industry is complex when you begin taking into consideration aspects like human trafficking and the exploitation of children. It’s critical to note that when we address sex workers and sex workers’ rights, we are not discussing pulling anyone who is non-consenting into sex work (that’s considered sex trafficking and isn’t acceptable under any circumstances). Within this article, ‘sex work’ will refer to completely consensual encounters, of a sexual nature, between two or more adults in exchange for payment.
A brief history of the sex industry
One of the oldest careers in the world, prostitution has been practiced around the globe since ancient times. From Sumerian texts dating to 2400 BCE making a note of karkid (the Sumerian word for ‘prostitute’), modern-day historians have discovered that this practice was likely tied to temple service. In these same texts, kur-garru (‘male sex workers’) and transgender entertainers are also noted, perhaps linked to the Cult of Ishtar. Brothels and independent sex workers also appeared in every other continent throughout history, regardless of the religious influence reigning in the area at the time.
In ancient Roman and Greek civilizations, all genders were welcome to engage in sex. In Greece, female sex workers often worked independently, many being influential figureheads within their cities. Even religious prostitution was well-known, with sex workers dedicating their lives to sexual pleasure. For the price of hiring someone, they would be paid roughly the equivalent of a layperson’s salary for the day. In Rome, prostitution was not only common, but legal and public. Regardless of the status of the hiring individual and the gender of the sex worker they hired, society offered no moral disapproval, so long as the hirer was self-controlled, treated the sex worker fairly, and did it in moderation (and for personal enjoyment).
As the centuries moved on and time passed, previously liberal views on prostitution and the hiring of sex workers began to wane due to religious influences. Throughout the Middle East, Islamic perspectives began to shift, and the Roman Catholic Church’s influence swept through Europe throughout the Middle Ages onward. However, despite an increase in sexually transmitted infections spreading throughout the continent, the Church often turned a blind eye due to their belief that it helped eliminate (or, at least, lessen) the occurrences of masturbation, sodomy, and rape.
Misconceptions about sex workers and sex work
Let us begin with this: if you consider yourself an intersectional feminist, you should be supporting sex workers. Often, people are misinformed about the statistics surrounding the sex industry, assuming that folks take this on as a job because they are trafficked or have been forced into it in some way, are abused and manipulated by a pimp who is in full control of them, or that they are homeless, addicted to drugs, or mentally ill and find themselves with no other option than to sell their body for sex. While this is undoubtedly the case for some folks — we do not deny that this, unfortunately, does happen — it is not true for most.
The fact is, much of the research conducted on the sex industry is done so by researchers with an agenda looking to prove their thesis that all prostitution is dangerous and, thus, should be illegal. When interviewees questioned are all sourced from prisons and drug rehabilitation centres, it will come as no surprise that the results will lean towards painting sex workers as an abused, marginalized community.
In truth, both sex workers and the people who hire them are diverse, with no set demographic. Age (so long as everyone involved is a consenting adult), race, gender, sexual orientation, and so forth, do not make someone any more or less capable of being a sex worker or client. Yes, even considering sex and disability is of the utmost importance; when people have a range of sexual desires, interests, and behaviours related to disability, including physically and emotionally, engaging in the sex industry (whether as the worker or client) can be extremely rewarding.
Why folks might pay for a sex worker
Building off the point mentioned above, sex and disability can come into play when folks feel different physically and emotionally regarding their sexual desires, interests, and behaviours. It’s been proven that access to the sex industry can actually “aid in the flourishing of the erotic lives of disabled people.” It’s not just folks with a disability that benefit from and pay for a sex worker, though.
Folks looking to explore their kinks and fetishes with a consenting sexual partner may seek a sex worker interested in helping them with this awakening, as might people who have a mismatched libido with their significant other (but still wants to have sex). Others may just be looking for a way to get over a breakup, or might just be seeking out a handjob or getting eaten out. Regardless of why someone might hire a sex worker, they are very likely doing so to seek sexual gratification or companionship.
While some people argue that utilizing sex dolls and sex robots is more ‘moral’ and ‘acceptable’ than hiring a human sex worker, this is not the case. Of course, if someone is sexually aroused by sex dolls or sex robots, using one is perfectly normal, whether purchased for the home or visiting a sex doll brothel. The disadvantage is when a person seeking out a human interaction for sexual pleasure is swayed to feeling shame and self-consciousness due to their desire to hire a sex worker.
The importance of decriminalizing sex workers
Sex work is work, whether in the form of prostitution or the adult film industry. By legalizing sex work and implementing rules and safety measures to protect workers, governments can significantly decrease the cases of violence and exploitation. This includes setting guidelines and precautions for performers in pornography (essentially, ensuring that all porn is ethical porn), where many people experience unfair and unsafe working conditions.
Decriminalization of the sex industry has also been proven to lessen the frequency of sex trafficking. After legalizing prostitution in 2003, New Zealand’s Ministry of Justice found that, after five years, there were no incidents of human trafficking. There was also no evidence of the number of sex workers increasing in the nation. In New Zealand, legalized brothels create a safe place for workers and clients alike; indeed, clients can be refused if they are intoxicated or are unwilling to wear a condom. Workers are also covered under the country’s occupational health and safety laws.
While New Zealand has still seen the murders of sex workers, it has decreased in number. Police can conduct more thorough investigations, as folks in the sex industry feel more comfortable speaking to law enforcement about what they know; in fact, if anything is amiss, workers can call the police to make a report.
How you can advocate for sex workers’ rights
Sex Workers Rights Day, celebrated every March, dates back to 2001, when upwards of 25,000 sex workers across India banded together to march despite prohibitionist groups doing what they could to prevent it from occurring. The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, celebrated in December, began in 2003 in memoriam of the Green River Killer in Seattle, Washington. This was after the killer confessed to the murder of at least 49 women (many of whom were sex workers), telling law enforcement that they were the easiest to abduct without anyone noticing.
While these particular days of the year are intended to raise awareness of the dangerous and exploitative working conditions that many sex workers face due to the stigma, lack of accessible care, and ignorance of the sex industry, it’s important to note that every day should be one of showing respect. As we hope we had made clear before, a significant way society can begin this step forward is to decriminalize sex work.
We’re not claiming that you have to find the best cities to have sex nearest to you and seek out a sex worker to hire. We’re simply saying that you should be supporting folks who are making an honest living, starting by educating yourself, refraining from judgement, and stepping in when you can to advocate for sex workers’ rights.
We cannot emphasize enough that sex work is work. As we continue to advocate for sex workers’ rights — so that all sex workers can be considered legal sex workers — we can hope to see a substantial decrease in both discrimination and violence against these folks. Society needs to express the same disgust towards a sex worker being murdered as they would towards a grocery store worker being killed on the job. This can begin by simply looking at the sex industry as you would any other niche; it works for some people, but not others. That doesn’t make it any worse (or different).
What are some ways you think you could change sex work laws in your own municipality, to be more aligned with sex workers’ rights? In what other ways do you think society can help better support workers in the sex industry (including your favourite local sex workers outreach project)? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
