I have been a sex worker in the past, for 12 years. My experiences were pretty bad, and I do think it caused me more trauma , I certainly never found it empowering after the first year or so anyway. The only good thing about it was the money and the way money can be made quickly and flexibly I'd say its more a way of earning than a job, a bit like shoplifting. I did encounter violence a few times one bad time although most weren't violent and some were what id describe as benign some even personable , but there are plenty , plenty of pigs about who hate women and treat you like shit. I had threats even from agencies. I worked indoors, most of those I met and knew including myself in that , have some problems past or present, serious trauma , homelessness , debt, addictions, abuse, poverty , health problems especially those too Ill to do a 'normal' job but denied ESA benefits, struggling single parents. Im not saying we were all forced, i met a few who were happy, but many or most where it is a hobsons choice, a choice between a few grim options prostitution being one. I think there are a lot of sides to this, I hated it in a very visceral way and in the end I took a breakdown because my body and mind just stopped being able to do it anymore. I suffered a form of PTSD during and after and I was always scared of something happening like what happened to Jessica McGraa last year, always watching my back, enduring parronising insults and abusive boundary pushing not to mention the recoiling inside just due to the fact i was only consenting due to needing the cash whilst trying to put on a brave face , the risk of stis i got herpes from my first ever job despite protection but thankfully nothing else although oral without protection is commonplace, feeling like an outsider .. the list goes on
And I've been away for a couple years but still fear the possible future day where financial needs makes me have to go there again , I hope that never happens, but in a way I would be glad of the option being there, although again it would be completely a Hobson's choice and down to the myriad of poverty reasons and a last resort.
I always find it strange that it always comes back to the sex workers choices , even on a thread titled what kind of men use prostitutes!! if someone who hasn't experience of sex work wants to know how about 1/3 (estimation based on experience) of the men who use prostitutes really view it , I'd suggest visiting the cesspit which is the ukpunting site and read from the horses mouth how some clients minds work, its an eye opener for sure.