To think pornstars are a type of prostitute....

[coconuttella]

.... because it seems as though the term 'pornstar' has a certain glamour to some that puts them in a different league, when actually they are one and the same... they both sell sex.

[msrisotto]

Yes, it is filmed prostitution.

[BeachyKeen]

They are both types of sex work, but not the same job.

[flossietoot]

Yes. Both sex workers.

[FritzDonovan]

Are you trying to start a bunfight?

[WorraLiberty]

Yes, a different kind of prostitution obviously.

[Patriciathestripper1]

Isn't all work some kind of prostitution? People selling themselves and their skills for money?

[TheresABluebirdOnMyShoulder]

Yes. They are paid to have sex. The use of terms such as "porn star", "performer", "artist" etc. is just a way to glamorise it for marketing purposes.

[Patriciathestripper1]

Funny that, I have never seen awards evenings and red carpet events hosted for girls Selling themselves on canal street trying to get 20 quid for a blow job.
The two jobs are worlds apart regulated differently and policed differently.

[FritzDonovan]

Definitely. Definition search:
Noun: the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment.
No doubt about it.
Cue someone who comes on to argue about definition and semantics.

[khajiit13]

Well yes, they are.
Prostitution? Illegal, mostly. But shove a camera in the mix? Well that's ok then.....

[coconuttella]

Isn't all work some kind of prostitution?

In common parlance, prostitution is selling your body for sex. Stretching the definition to that extent just makes the word
Meaningless

[coconuttella]

Funny that, I have never seen awards evenings and red carpet events hosted for girls Selling themselves on canal street trying to get 20 quid for a blow job.

Arguably the examples above a two ends of the spectrum.... the same spectrum.

[BraveDancing]

Well, yes. But if you want to be super precise about the definition, then a housewife who doesn't love her husband anymore but doesn't feel able to leave because she can't afford the rent and still has sex with her husband twice a week is a kind of prostitute too.

I don't think it's as simple as saying sex + money = prostitute. They're very different worlds.

[Patriciathestripper1]

coconut what do you do for a living?

[ageingrunner]

I'd say porn is filmed rape, and prostitution is rape as genuine consent can't be bought

[ageingrunner]

Should have said in porn consent is also paid for (by steaming/DVD sales) so also not genuine consent

[BraveDancing]

ageingrunner - don't you think that's more than a bit patronising towards the women who work in the sex industry? To say we're basically mentally incompetent by virtue of our job?

Disclaimer - I don't work in the industry any more. But I used to dance, which I consider to be a related field.

[caroldecker]

ageing Of course consent can be bought. Would you do your job for no money?

[isupposeitsverynice]

The original meaning of the word pornography literally meant depiction of whores, so yeah. Also, pornography is people having sex for money, oh, much like prostitution. Neither are nice or glamourous or empowering but symptomatic of misogyny and women's oppression.

[TabascoToastie]

What about feminist porn (eg Erika Lust's work), or porn being made specifically for a female audience? What about the genres of porn where no sex takes place?

[ageingrunner]

Brave without meaning to be rude, I don't think you can compare dancing to getting fucked for money by lots of men you don't have any choice about. Unless dancing is a euphemism?

[Butterymuffin]

What are the genres of porn where no sex takes place? Genuinely curious. But not going to Google for obvious reasons so I'm asking here.

[ageingrunner]

caroldecker my job doesn't involve strangers putting their penis in my vagina and anus. I like to have the choice about who does that or not. Sex is completely different to other things that people do for money. Many women working in porn end up with rectal prolapses, for instance. Many women involved in porn or prostitution have a history of CSA. Many are coerced and drug addicted. To try and say it's a job like any other is insulting and minimising the pain and suffering of those who actually do the work.

[SiestaFiesta]

I would assume maybe types of fetish porn Buttery?

[FritzDonovan]

Tabasco, I don't think anyone who restricted themselves to nudie pics would be described as a 'pornstar', as in OP. Anything else surely includes some form of sexual activity, which is what the definition of prostitution uses.