While sex work is finally becoming more normalized in our society, there are still a lot of harmful misconceptions surrounding the job. To destigmatize sex work and validate it as a true profession, it’s essential to explore some of these myths. The Equality Institute provides a great resource on their website called “Unpacking Harmful Myths Around Sex Work,” which is super helpful for this article. It’s noted that:
“Sex work is an industry in which its workers face extreme stigma, violence, and discrimination.” ( equality institute )
In debunking some of these misconceptions, we can hopefully understand how myths come to support this extreme stigma, violence, and discrimination that we see in the industry. Sex work is legitimate work, and sex workers deserve the same respect as individuals in any other profession. Getting educated is the first step in making the sex industry a safer and inclusive space for workers.
Common Myths Surrounding Sex Work
The first myth that the article talks about is the thought that “sex work is an act of gender-based violence by men toward women.” ( equality institute ) If you look at the reality of the sex industry, we see that this is not true. This myth puts forth the ideology that sex workers don’t have an agency or will of their own and instead are forced into their profession:
- There are sex workers of all genders.
- There are clients of all genders and sexualities.
- Any non-consensual act that occurs between a client and a sex worker is not sex work, it is violence. Sexual violence happens across all levels of society and violence at work occurs in all industries - it is not “part of the job” for sex workers. ( equality institute )
In this sense, it becomes clear that sex work is not an act of gender-based violence by men toward women. Sex work is inclusive of all genders and is rooted in a positive, safe expression of sexuality. Moreover, there should always be a strong emphasis on consent during any exchange in the industry. Sex work is consensual. Anything non--consensual is not valid sex work and should be viewed as violence. Sexual violence should never be a part of a worker’s job description.
Another myth that the article debunks is the thought that “sex workers give people permission to treat them like objects.” ( equality institute ) This myth is especially harmful because it adds to the dehumanization of sex workers and perpetuates the idea of objectification. Sex workers are human beings- not objects:
- Sex work is real work. People in the industry deserve respect just like any professional doing their job. - Paying for a service from someone does not give you the right to disrespect or mistreat them. - Sex work alone does not perpetuate patriarchal systems and structures. We all exist and operate within the patriarchy and we are doing our best to function within this oppressive system.
- Sex work can be, for many sex workers, a way to reclaim their body as their own and wield their own political power and agency. ( equality institute )
The last bullet point truly resonates with me, as I view sex work as a reclamation of one’s body. Sex work can be a way for individuals to claim insurgency over their bodies within the patriarchy. It can be freeing to claim autonomy over one’s body through sexual expression; sex work is a mere outlet for this expression. Sex work does not mean that an individual is using their body as an object, but rather sex work is a beautiful act of reclamation.
By: Alyssa Morterud