Getting involved in sex work has been one of the best decisions of my life. Sex work has helped me keep a roof over my head, kept my pets fed, paid for my college education, and so much more over the years. There are a lot of misconceptions about sex work, but the reality is that many of us are proud of the work that we do and thankful for the gifts it’s given us. I wanted to talk to other sex workers about what sex work has done for them and this is what they had to say:
Arabelle Raphael:
“Sex work has improved my life in many ways. Something that comes to mind is the freedom it gives me to take time off and take care of myself. I’ve been chronically ill and differently abled since I was a kid. Having a job that offers the ability to rest as well the ability to pay for my treatment is a godsend. At times it can be a creative outlet for me, especially shooting BDSM scenes. It’s like naked performance art. When it’s right it’s beyond rewarding. Somehow putting a price of my sexual labor helped me figure out a lot of my own self worth. It’s hard to explain but it taught me how to take better care of myself.”
Sara St. Claire:
“Sex work makes me happy. It truly does. I’ve met such amazing friends. I know most girls keep work life and personal life separate, but for me these people people are my real friends. I have gentlemen and fans who will regularly check on me and make sure I’m doing well and taken care of. I’ve been taken on vacations, to sporting events, and gifted all sorts of stuff, not even for me but also my son. You know, things that I could never afford if I was still bartending. Not to mention it’s just a super flattering ego boost that people are willing to spend their money to meet me or buy my content. The market is over saturated, so the fact that people pick to spend their money on me gives me an extra sense of humility. I’ve received business advice from those who have already experienced it firsthand. I’m beyond grateful for everything sex work has added to my life.”
Sybil Stallone:
“Sex work enabled me to buy luxury cars, homes in my early 20s, help feed my family, and escape generational poverty. I became powerful, strong, and independent: nothing that my parents taught me and nothing that college could teach me. I found my freedom. Performing became my outlet and advertising for sex work, having worked in clubs, agencies, and legal houses all around the world. It was the fastest way for me to get to millions of possible fans (aka consumers). I’m a strong, fearless, nurturing, educated sex worker who found herself. Without it, my entire fleet will sink. I provide for my family and everyday I wake up I know I was meant to be doing what I’m doing.”
Allie Eve Knox:
“In 2014, I finished grad school, $100k+ in student loan debt, slaughtered in my divorce, fully supporting my brother: life sucks. I started camming after work and made great money. I shot some porn and started making my own content. I was able to get out of debt in 15 months and have lived debt-free ever since. I got lucky with crypto and built my dream house in winter 2017. Now I get to make fetish videos in my underwear in my kitchen and make 5x what I was making at a job I went to school for eight years for. I went from hella broke, stressed, dying to be secure, to happy and getting to call all the shots. I didn’t have to sit in traffic, listen to anyone’s nagging bullshit, and I get all the credit now with my self-made brand.”
Brittany Andrews:
“For me, I originally came from nothing, not having any money or education. I dropped out of school in 8th grade. I got into the adult entertainment industry at 18, and by the time I was 21, I was working and doing production coordination. By the time I was 23 I owned a 5k square-foot studio in LA that I rented out, had a DVD series, had 15 websites I was producing and directing. I went from somebody that should’ve been pregnant and on food stamps to living my best life. I’ve lived an amazing life and I’ve taken every opportunity presented to me. I learned camera work, editing, I designed my own costumes, I was interested in distribution. I learned so, so, so much in this business. Coming from somebody that had absolutely nothing, it’s allowed me to be a woman that has an education on so many different things. I definitely have a business degree from what I’ve learned. I’ve traveled all over the world. Quite often you get people who think we need to be rescued, but I’m glad no one rescued me! Because of sex work, I was able to take care of my sister, and I also took care of my mom for 16 years until she passed away. Being a sex worker has given me a life I couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams. I’m extremely grateful for what sex work brought into my life and how it helped my family.”
Tera Patrick:
“Sex work has brought me a lot of freedom, security, stability, and happiness. I feel there aren’t a lot of jobs out there that allow you to do all of that AND fulfill your fantasies and desires, and not just make a really great income, I’ve also grown a lot as a person. Sex work shows you how to be adaptable and deal with people. It’s one of those jobs where you probably get to know the psyche of people too well, and you connect with them in a really intimate way. It may not seem like that on the surface because a lot of people think what we do is the intimate part, but quite frankly, I think webcamming for the past six years, I know a lot of things about men that I would’ve never been able to access in any other job. Sex work has only changed my life for the better. I’ve yet to experience any negativity as far as it hindering any future prospects. I moved to Europe and it’s a very different lifestyle and culture here. I’m going to start working full time as a chemist, which is something I’ve studied and worked for for the past five years. I also met someone really incredible and got married because I was working in a strip club! I think sex work has only been positive for me. It’s allowed me so much financial security. I’ve been able to dive into so many different facets of sex work and they’ve all been profitable and positive experiences.”
The truth is that sex work is real work, all reasons for getting into sex work are valid, and it’s important to talk about the positives, not just the negatives—which so much media tends to focus on. Whether you got into sex work to buy designer bags or just to pay the bills, your work is important, you are seen, and we’re proud of you.
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