This sits well with most peopleβthat is, until they find out that I am also a sex worker. These two facets of my personality coexist unremarkably, yet to many they seem opposing.
How can you trust her? The main argument that supports this branch of feminism is that sex work is exploitative and objectifying, while often assigning all workers the role of being a victim of the trade. For context, I have been in the sex work industry for over a decade. Currently I am a stripper, but my sex work resume is about as broad as it can get.
To call ourselves sex workers invites a shared solidarity between us all. Historically, there has been a binary divide between feminists in regards to sex work.
Many are outspoken about the empowerment of sex work, whereas many label it as exploitative. The reality of the situation is that some days I feel exploited, and some days I feel empowered. My friends, my partner, my family membersβwe all share this struggle unanimously. Yet rarely are civilian workers shamed or told how they should feel about what they do.
Do I feel empowered when I tell people what I do for a living? I do, but there are still certain people I choose not to share this information with because their perceptions and treatments of me would change. I am no longer anything elseβI am a stripper. SWERF ideologies can be personally hurtful, yes, but these rhetorics lead to real-life repercussions as well. Shaming and dehumanizing sex workers gives others the permission to do the same, which can have dangerous consequences.
