The Pros And Cons Of Sex Work
Good Lord, where to start! The pros and cons of sex work swing from one extreme to the next.
First off, while television shows and movies may glamorize the sex industry, please don’t be fooled. Endless money and charming clients are not the reality for most sex workers, and the industry can expose them to physical and emotional harm, plus legal consequences.
On one hand, proponents argue that legalizing and regulating the industry could provide safer conditions for sex workers, potentially reducing violence and exploitation. They also claim that it could generate significant tax revenue (many many sex workers do pay tax on their earnings). Additionally, some believe that consensual adult transactions should be a matter of personal choice rather than criminalization.
However, on the other hand, critics argue that prostitution perpetuates gender inequality and objectification by commodifying women’s bodies. There are concerns about the impact it may have on public health through the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Moreover, opponents argue that legitimizing prostitution could lead to an increase in human trafficking and coercion.
However, that’s part of the political debate and what we really want here are the pros and cons of sex work as it relates to doing the actual job.
The Pros Of Sex Work
Great hourly rate – even if the work isn’t regular, you can make decent money and have time for yourself to do other things. You’ll probably find that the earning potential isn’t as good as it once was, so don’t be fooled by those documentaries where the women say they are earning thousands of pounds a week. It can happen but more often than not it can be difficult to clear anywhere near that. Tradespeople probably earn more than sex workers due to demand and supply. Not enough plumbers but lots of people needing them, too many sex workers and not enough decent punters. Also, bear in mind that you have an awful lot to pay out for as an escort. Plumbers etc have to pay for their vehicle, tools and materials, plus advertising. On top of that, prostitutes have to pay for venues to work from which takes up a large chunk of money. There is endless cleaning to be taken care of, constant grooming and travelling when you tour.
Flexibility in terms of when, how, and where you choose to work.
You get to meet some genuinely nice guys who can become friends over time. That may sound silly to some, but it’s true.
In a weird way it can do wonders for your ego; all those “little brain” (cock) compliments can get addictive. Word of warning though: if you rely solely on your sexuality for a long time, it can damage your mental health.
You are in total control (or you should be) of who you see and who you don’t want to see. You are in control of which services to offer. You are also in control when it comes to refusing a service or/and a client and are totally within the law to do so.
Fast money.
The Cons Of Sex Work
Being stalked, assaulted, or harassed is no joke. It’s important to remember that you have the same rights as anyone else when it comes to these situations. Punters can range from trouble making scumbags and psychopaths, to genuinely respectful individuals.
There’s still a stigma attached to sex work. This societal perception might make you inclined to lead a double life, but doing so comes with its own challenges and can significantly impact your mental health.
Similar to the first point, there are some great punters, but unfortunately, there are also plenty of guys you’d rather avoid, which can make the job quite challenging. While you can note them down in your phone to avoid them in the future, they can change their SIM cards and try to see you again. You of course have the final say in whether you will or won’t see them.
It’s not strictly illegal to work with anyone else, but it’s illegal to assist in the management of a brothel. From the Release website:
“It is not an offence to work as a prostitute or maid in
a brothel, but it is an offence to keep, manage, act or
assist in the management of a brothel. The penalty
is a fine and/or up to 7 yrs in prison.”
Efforts are being made not to criminalize escorts. However, if you are making a nuisance of yourself and neighbours are complaining, they will want to close you down.
Punting forums. These are the review sites where men talk about the sex workers they have visited. The language can be awful and identifying information has been given out in the past. Allegedly, legal action has made them reel it in but these websites are dangerous in our view for a variety of reasons. One of them is the general opinion that hiring an escort is the same as buying a packet of biscuits and that the punters are covered by usual consumer rights. EG; You advertised this so I demand it. No, it doesn’t work that way and inciting other punters to do so isn’t great.
Many of the guys who contact you will be timewasters who have no intention of making a booking or if they do, many don’t show up and don’t let you know that they’ve “been called into work”. This means a lot of your energy is spent talking to and texting guys as well as getting ready for bookings that never happen.
The endless mind numbing, brain drain texts, emails and calls. When you have on your profile that you’re working that day, you will still get texts asking if you are working that day. You will get lots of “heya babes”, and nothing else. You’ll get “Available?” (often without the question mark), and then when you ignore, you’ll get sent the two question marks of death. You’ll get calls from people who have no money but who just want to talk to an actual real live prostitute. You’ll get asked simple questions that are answered on your profile such as “how much?” and “wot you offer?”. All these silly communications can take up a lot of your time and make you feel like screaming, and it takes a while to get a feel for the genuine guys who actually want to ask a sensible question or book you.
As mentioned at the start, the pros and cons of sex work are extremes. If you’re smart and have what it takes, you could become financially stable. On the other hand, you could put yourself in danger and get hurt or worse.
Think about what you want to do with your life before taking such a drastic decision.