I used to be a prostitute / sex work. I did it for 8 years. I stopped 6 years ago.
Mostly it was ok actually and I'm glad the option exists as the alternative was much worse. It often amazes me how many people believe we have a functioning benefits system in this country. We don't. People fall through the cracks in it all the time. The UK has created a 'hostile environment' for disabled people and for people unable to work full time or even if they do, unable to meet the spiraling costs of living. Benefits in general are at the lowest level for 30 years.
This is the real problem here - not moralising, not theoretical arguments or knowledge.
I've known hundreds of sex workers both UK nationals and migrants and the vast vast majority are very resourceful and proud women simply trying to survive financially against the odds, or to get a decent lifestyle that otherwise would be far out of reach. Some (far from all) have mental health or addiction problems yes, but we know the state of MH and addiction services in this country.
My point is that we need to fix the causes of prostitution, the factors driving people into it. We need a harm reduction model which actually listens to the women involved, rather than pushing it further underground with laws which cause harm and make us further unsafe.
Yes there are 'bad clients' and bad experiences in sex work. The vast majority are respectful of boundaries actually, and most workers are very strict on screening who we will see and this minimises the risks, but yes, bad clients do happen and that's why I left when I could. As I said, the alternative (real poverty, eviction) was worse.
I'd say most men who pay for sex are no more moral or immoral than the general population. A minority are scumbags.