Why are prostitutes called sex workers?

[JoanofLarks]

Forgive me if I've missed something here. In my view, prostitution isn't work, it's... Seedy to say the least. If it was work, then surely it wouldn't be illegal, would be regulated and so on. Am I being offensive to women who do this by referring to them as prostitutes? Need some help with explanation I think!

Sex work does not sound any nicer to me than prostitution. Like goose wrote it includes strippers, cams etc.

I am not seeing what others are seeing of it being a euphemism. Anything but.

Sex work does not sound any nicer to me than prostitution. Like goose wrote it includes strippers, cams etc.

I am not seeing what others are seeing of it being a euphemism. Anything but.

I think the idea is that it suggests agency. "Prostitute" can be used as a transitive verb: you can prostitute someone else, or you can be prostituted. But you can't be sex workered. The term only works as something that you do yourself.

So yeah - in cases where that agency corresponds to the reality of a person's participation in it, I can see why a sex worker would be offended by someone calling them a prostitute. But in the many cases where it doesn't, calling the person a sex worker is a euphemism because it's attempting to avoid the reality of coercion and exploitation involved. And that's offensive in a different way.

How many parents hopeful for their daughter's future, based on years of academic study, would sanction her signing up for a 'Sex Work' degree? What does that tell us about sex work, class and power?

@CardsforKittens

Prostitution isn’t illegal, in the UK at least.

Do prostitutes pay tax and national insurance?

If not, why?

Do prostitutes pay tax and national insurance?

Yes lots do, you can register as an adult entertainer.

So the the ones who do not pay T&NI on "work that is not illegal" are erm..breaking the law?

..and breaking the law is illegal, non?

Just to be clear I personally do not think that being paid to be used in that way is "work like any other work".

I'm not having a go at the women involved, rather the apologists for the scummy men that use the women.

Prostitution (or whatever you might choose to call it) is in my opinion a particularly nasty example of patriarchy in action.

How many of the women in the so-called red light district of Shameful Leeds does one imagine pay tax on their "earnings" and enjoy the benefits and protections afforded to other workers in our country?

If it's work like any other work do they get holiday pay? Statutory sick pay?

I am specifically asking these questions to people who chant the sex work is work mantra...

Prostituted women are called sex workers because it benefits pimps. Pimps are also 'sex workers' by their own identificiation. These sorts of 'sex workers' make up the majority of people in unions and lobby groups, especially those who are influential and powerful. Pimps as sex workers can lobby for law changes which would benefit the pimps, and claim they're doing it for all 'sex workers'.

We also know that prostitutes are women. Men are not prostitutes, they are ‘male prostitutes’ if the word is ever used to describe them.

By renaming prostitutes as ‘sex workers’, it takes it a step from describing the oppressed sex and hides their specific oppression among a whole load of other activities.

Same as any other re-branding to fit it's new image as a trendy acceptable career choice. Clearly the work performed is nothing like that nasty, seedy, exploitative stuff associated with prostitution.

So the the ones who do not pay T&NI on "work that is not illegal" are erm..breaking the law?

..and breaking the law is illegal, non?

Yes. Tax evasion is illegal.

Prostitution isn't.

Glad we cleared that up.