Introduction
Prostitution is considered one of the oldest professions in the world but still remains highly stigmatized in modern society. There is no international consensus on what exactly qualifies as prostitution beyond “paid sex,” and it is a regulated industry only in a handful of countries (McMillan et al. 2). In recent decades, the term “prostitution” has been substituted by “sex work” in order to redefine commercial sex as a valid form of employment rather than a moral judgment of a class of women. Sex work and prostitution are not interchangeable terms, and it is important to recognize why this profession is vilified yet still pursued by millions of women and men.
Differences Between Sex Work and Prostitution
Although the terms “sex work” and “prostitution” both refer to the act of exchanging sexual services for money, they have very different connotations. The term “sex worker” acknowledges that sex work is a legitimate form of employment and income generation between consensual adults. However, “prostitution” is associated with criminality, transgression, marginalization, and immorality (McMillan et al. 3). It is a morally loaded word that simultaneously refers to “the sexual misuse of the self” and the betrayal of integrity for material gain (McMillan et al. 3). While “sex work” is a neutral category of services provided in exchange for payment, “prostitution” is a derogatory term that morally condemns the personal characteristics and motivation of its participants.
Furthermore, “prostitute” is considered an inadequate way of describing the nuances of the modern sex industry. With the development of technology and virtual spaces, there has been a rise in new sex-related professions such as pornography, commercial stripping, phone sex, and web-camming (Lister). While these activities do not involve direct physical contact and are not commonly regarded as prostitution, the term “sex work” brings a sense of commonality to their experiences and daily struggles. Sex work is a more ambiguous designation that can be used to bring various sex-related professions together and make it easier for them to mobilize and collectively advocate for their rights.
However, it should be noted that the term “sex worker” is not unanimously accepted by all academics or participants of the commercial sex industry. Some argue that the adoption of this label fails to acknowledge the unique problem, vulnerabilities, and reduced opportunities faced by individuals who engage in paid sex (McMillan et al. 3). It arguably acts as a euphemism that superficially grants its participants a sense of empowerment and autonomy that they do not actually experience in their life. While “sex work” is not imbued with negative character judgment, it can also disguise the particular issues faced by participants of the paid sex industry.
Reasons for Using ‘Sex Work’ and Not ‘Prostitution’
Using the term “sex worker” instead of “prostitute” prevents their exclusion from health, legal, and social services. Language is a malleable force that can resist or perpetuate social power relations. Since the term “prostitute” pathologizes the individuals who sell sex by portraying them as a risk to society, it effaces their vulnerability and tacitly sanctions the violence committed against them (McMillan et al. 3). The criminalization and stigmatization of paid sex contribute to HIV vulnerability and create conditions under which physical, sexual, and psychological violence is more likely to occur (McMillan et al. 3). Recognizing sex work as a valid form of labor means its participants are entitled to the same work-related rights, regulations, and protections.
When sex work is stigmatized and banned, the health and safety of sex workers are undermined because the practice must be done secretly. Sex workers are thus unable to negotiate the terms of the transaction with their clients or call upon law enforcement in emergency cases. There has been a widespread violation of the sex workers’ human rights due to their fear of reporting the cases to the relevant authority (Orchard et al. 1576). Destigmatization means sex workers will be less vulnerable to violence since their rights and working environment will be regulated by the government.
Moreover, recognizing sex work as a valid form of employment facilitates collective action and empowerment. Usage of the term “prostitute” affects the perception of society, law enforcement, and the participants in the sex industry themselves. It deprives them of their autonomy, agency, and self-esteem. However, the term sex work lends them a sense of agency that enables them to advocate for their rights, such as better access to health resources and services (McMillan et al. 3). The capacity for collective action is regarded as the key to sex workers’ empowerment and reduction of sexual health risks such as HIV.
The Motivation Behind Pursing Sex Work
The vast majority of workers exchange sexual services for money to earn their daily livelihoods since they have no other option of self-sustenance. They have ventured into the sex work business to ensure that they generate income and avoid destitution and poverty (Rissel et al. 84). However, some chose this field of work because it offers better pay and more flexible working conditions compared to other jobs (“Understanding Sex Work in an Open Society”). Furthermore, sex work can be profitable to women involved in such practices as it enables them to generate income and express their sexuality. Individuals can safely interact with other people and perform their sexual desires in a safe and secure environment where they understand that their services are valued (Orchard 57). Sex workers do their work due to an amalgamation of different factors, but typically it is done to generate income while enjoying a flexible schedule and exploring one’s sexuality.
Sex Work Compared to Other Forms of Work
Opponents of decriminalization often argue that sex work does not qualify as a valid form of employment. Unlike other jobs, experience is a disadvantage in sex work and translates to substandard wages. Secondly, no actual labor or service is being performed beyond having a body, which can be used even without the owner’s consent or cooperation. Thirdly, the idea of sex work being work protects the interests of the intermediaries and other stakeholders in the industry rather than the woman performing the sexual acts. In general, sex work is viewed as perpetuating the harmful stereotype of women as “vessels for male sexual consumption” (Bindel). It fuses the interests of “the prostitute with the pimp, the buyer, and the capitalist” without acknowledging the specific vulnerabilities and hazards faced by sex workers. Sex work is not considered work and is interpreted as a form of sexual abuse since it is inherently coercive and commodifies women’s bodies.
Costs and Benefits of Virtual Sex Work
Virtual sex work is considered the inevitable development of online communications technology. Camming, cybersex, phone sex, sexting, and virtual sex through augmented reality headsets are all considered subtypes of virtual sex that generally occur over the Internet without physical contact. It allows individuals to explore their sexuality without being put at risk of sexually transmitted diseases, physical violence, or pregnancy. Furthermore, platforms such as OnlyFans allow sex workers to control their online activity and reap all the profits without having to depend on intermediaries such as pimps. Virtual sex work grants workers greater autonomy and physical safety.
However, virtual sex work also has certain drawbacks for the individual workers and society’s general perception of women. Since customers are usually anonymous and less likely to suffer immediate physical consequences, they are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior, harassment, cyberbullying, and sexual abuse (Katalin et al. 57). Furthermore, it transforms sex work into an everyday activity and reinforces the subordinate position of women as the sexual servants of men. While virtual sex workers are likely to suffer from cyberbullying and perpetuate gender inequality, the fact that their physical safety is not compromised means the benefits of virtual sex work outweigh the costs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sex work is a complex phenomenon that cannot be easily classified as “good” or “bad”. The term sex work is preferable to prostitution because it does not pathologize its participants’ personal motivations and integrity. Most workers pursue this field to generate income, take advantage of a flexible schedule, or simply as a venue to explore their sexuality. Destigmatizing it means they are afforded better access to health and safety regulations. However, opponents of legalization and virtual sex work argue that paid sex is an inherently coercive act that perpetuates gender inequality and the commodification of the female body.
Works Cited
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Lister, Kate. “Sex Workers or Prostitutes? Why Words Matter.” I News, 2017.
McMillan, Karen, Worth, Heather, and Rawstorne, Patrick. “Usage of the Terms Prostitution, Sex Work, Transactional Sex, and Survival Sex: Their Utility in HIV Prevention Research.” Archives of Sexual Behavior, vol. 47, no. 5, 2018, pp. 1517-1527.
Parti, Katalin, Kiss, Tibor, and Koplanyi, Gergely. “Architecture of Aggression in Cyberspace. Testing Cyber Aggression in Young Adults in Hungary.” International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence and Cybercrime, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 56-68.
Proletarian Feminist. “The Problem With the Phrase ‘Sex Work is Work’.” Medium, 2020.
Orchard, T. “First-Person Singular(s): Teasing out Multiple Truths in Sex Worker Autobiographies.” Routledge International Handbook of Sex Industry Research, edited by Treena Orchard. Routledge, 2019, pp. 55-67.
Rissel, Donovan, et al. “Decriminalization of Sex work is Not Associated with More Men Paying for Sex: Results from the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships.” Sexuality Research, vol. 2 no. 1. 2017, pp. 81-86.
“Understanding Sex Work in an Open Society.” Open Society Foundations, 2019.