To be considering webcam work?

[AnneNonimous]

Haven't even name changed...eeeek

I am slowly trying to start my own business. Slowly because I don't have enough money, don't yet have enough equipment and am a lone parent.

I have seriously been considering taking up online webcam work to earn extra money to buy the equipment I need.

I have checked out a few websites, you can block certain countries from seeing you so nobody I know would have to find out! Getting undressed is not necessary and infact banned on some sites outside of 'private shows' and I could do it as and when I want (ie when DS is in bed)

Have I completely lost my mind or does it make sense?

Well worth getting a degree then, so you can end up doing cam and phone sex.

So, as a sociology graduate, enlighten me as to how yours, and others, part in this is not fuelling an industry or perception that devalues women as a whole please?

SlangKing don't worry, no big deal I still read it and you make some valid points. Just a matter of paragraphing :)

I don't regret doing my degrees, even if I am in a job that doesn't utilise them at the moment, I have been in the past and likely will again at some point in the future.

Ahhh, right. That's my cheap phone/Opera browser.

THIS sentence is a new para' but it won't look like one (to me) once it's posted.

If it looks OK to you/ppl with 21st century tech, I'll be sure to include then again cuz it bugs me too.

That does look better, SlangKing. Excellent previous post.

Thanks, Lady. Whoever woulda thunk it? If people with REAL browsers can see them I'll return to including them. I really need to get one of my PCs up n running - goodbye mobile versions of sites, welcome back multi-digit typing.

Yes it does look better-sorry SlangKing I didn't mean to be rude or anything, what you put was very apt and valid, it just made my eyes hurt!

Any reason why you have completely avoided my question sunflower? I'm interested in your views from a sociological viewpoint.

I didn't realise that was aimed at me, sorry.
I didn't realise I had mentioned sociology on this thread.

Apologies that should have been a question mark at the end, not a period.

My MA is in Psychology.I do have a BA in Sociology though, and I don't have the best memory in the world but didn't think I had mentioned that in this thread.

I'm a bit confused by your question though, my Sociological views are not different to the ones I have already outlined in above posts.

Then that is my error...but my question still stands.

"So, as a sociology graduate, enlighten me as to how yours, and others, part in this is not fuelling an industry or perception that devalues women as a whole please?"

this was the question

Sunflower - I didn't think you were being rude, even for a moment. I'm glad it was paragraphs rather than content that was difficult.

Sorry about your eyes,, and take small solace in the fact that, on a 1" by 1.5" screen, EVERYTHING hurts mine.

Okay Karinsgirl -that's why I didn't think the question was aimed at me though. I didn't 'Completely Avoid' your question.

Lol Slangking :) I remember being useless at paragraphing in the past, and I had no excuses unlike you, I just couldn't be bothered!

Karins, have you read any Wendy McElroy?

I cannot remember the name of the exact journal or article she wrote that I was in total agreement with, but I cited it in my BA thesis, which focused on the argument that pornography encouraged societal oppression of women, and contributed to rape and sexual degradation.

I am in agreement with how she feels about it.

There are pro porn feminists. There are liberal feminists (basics, your body your choice) and there are anti-porn feminists.

I do not think it is degrading to represent women as sexual beings. We are sexual beings. Our bodies are as much part of us as our minds are.

Nobody would ever see as degrading for women to be valued for their intelligence. Why is this not degrading to other women who aren't so intelligent? Why does it matter?

Coercion is a large issue it seems, people still seem to hold views that women must be forced, if not 'just' oppressed, or must be so naive and/or brainwashed to go into any form of adult entertainment for a living.

Why do people think this?This is so judgemental and fundamentally, so oppressive and anti-feminist in itself. What if a woman is just an exhibitionist and/or whose lifestyle suits that occupation?Why does this make her a bad person?

Is is also judgemental and a degradation to suggest that a woman who is in an industry that others do not agree with, is psychologically damaged and no longer responsible for what she is doing. How do those that think this, know that?
Most of them have little or no experiences or inside knowledge to cite, before they make such assumptions.

Sexuality is one realm that has been controlled by censorship, for a very long time. It's okay to be sexual.

The stigma applied to many sex workers, is often legitimised by women, not by men.

I do not hold the view that the adult industry and what it stands for is an 'Industry or perception that devalues women as a whole'

I do believe I outlined most , if not all, of the above earlier on in the thread. Just a bit more detailed here I guess.

Sunflower49, I agree.

I mentioned earlier in thread 2 Uni friends who did camming to supplement their grants. They wanted work they could do ad hoc, hours to suit, in the comfort of their rooms. & they had no qualms or hangups about porn/camming at all. As far as I see, its up to them. We're still friends years later, they've no issues about what they did so why should I?

Women judge each other far harsher and far more often than men will ever judge them. Whilst camming is not for me, I am not going to judge or berate any woman who does this, nor will I expect to push my morals onto them and bang on & on about it as if they have to accept, or are suddenly going to agree wholeheartedly with my moralising/view. I also don't buy that all women who cam are exploited, or co-erced. Many see it as an easy money job. Turn men on, get paid, that's it. Whatever it is, whatever we think, it is actually a woman's right to cam if she wants to, isn't it? There's no evidence to prove it will turn them into emotional wrecks either. Some will be ok with what they do. I'm guessing some won't, & they'll get out of the business if/when they can.

Some matters really are 'agree to disagree' fodder.

Sexuality is one realm that has been controlled by censorship, for a very long time.

No, it has always been controlled by men and still is.

if you told me that you were getting a sexual kick out of your online antics, I might think you had a point. But you have been quite clear that you don't. Ergo, your sexuality is being co-opted by men and you take payment for it which doesn't actually match the price of what you are doing.

IMO.

I personally don't, other camgirls may do (in fact at least one on this thread has said she does and a lot that I speak to do). That isn't so relevant though.
Right now I have women disapproving and telling me I am 'Letting the side down', and that I must have a psychological problem, must be exploited etc. Women.

Thank you, MistressDeeCee.
For the agree to disagree, I didn't want to get so far into this to be honest, but I will do as I like interesting discussions.

I have been a camgirl for a while, and I have faced the same response from a lot of women before so I'm kind of used to it now!

I answered the question Karinsgirl posted the best I felt I could, however the question was biased and not very coherently worded (I didn't know what she meant by 'this' for a start).

Why does it not match the price?

SK, would you mind not putting words in my mouth ?

Your post is offensive

And also case in point wrt how women's sexuality is controlled by men.

SK, I have reported your post as offensive.

Sunflower, I still fail to understand how you cannot see that what you do affects us all as women, by fuelling how men view us...as a whole.

SK's post above simply reinforces this sadly.

What have I missed?!

I guess I fail to agree on that because I am a different person to you, with different points of view.My agenda does not have to be yours.
There are also many men in adult entertainment. There are male camworkers. Are they not damaging their cause or ours?

Women aren't a homogeneous group. We don't all have to love/hate the same things.
There are some problems created by the adult industry, but I also have to point out that a lot of problems with it are caused by a society that marginalised and stigmatised sex workers.
Pointing the finger and blaming them for women's lower status in society isn't only unfair, It's also unhelpful-It's women devaluing other women, detrimental to women's status.

By implying that the sex industry devalues women or objectifies them, they are supporting the view that objectification has not moved forward.

I also feel that telling women to not do camshows is as useful as telling women to keep covered up as to not arouse men. I feel it takes away more of our rights and gives more power to men.

Sex positive feminism isn't anything new-nor is 'slut shaming'.

Nobody has the right to define feminsm, or assume that their view of it should be accepted by me or any other sex worker.

As a camgirl who also happens to be a vegan, I am very used to being in a world full of people who disagree with me. I'll cope :)

Who is defining feminism?

As an educated woman it surprises me you are unable to see a correlation between a woman obeying a stranger's instructions on webcam for £25 per hour, and the wider effect this has on women.

I really really REALLY!!!!!!!!!! would love to know where this £25 an hour has come from.

I have said repeatedly that I do not get a set price per hour, £25 or otherwise. My earnings are not capped.

Each post in this thread that has been against doing camshows for a living, has implied that being a camgirl by choice, is going against feminism. In saying that, each poster's definition of what feminism is, is pushed onto any who disagree. Your last sentence (minus this alleged elusive £25 an hour bit!) does much the same.

Sun, SK's deleted post basically said I had called you a slut and how he would love to watch us fighting for his entertainment

He is a bloke. This is what he reduced this conversation to. If you don't agree with the illustrative nature of that comment after everything said on this thread, then this really is a pointless thread. You will never acknowledge that this sort of work degrades women and I will never concede that the actions of individuals have no influence on the wider picture of how women are objectified as pieces of meat

I didn't see it, although I suspect it was lighthearted/joking.
I'm happy to agree to disagree, I think I outlined that already.

YABU This could follow you round for the rest of your life.