Just as Girl-Mom has taken a stance on being pro-choice as well as anti-racist we are also taking a stance on sex workers. We are a sex-postive site.

Just as racist, anti choice or sexist comments are not tolerated, anti-sex worker or negative comments about sex workers in general will not be tolerated. It is a job for some just like any other. It pays the bills and has good days and bad days. Those women at Girl-Mom and out in the real world shouldn't be judged for their decision to go into this line of work.

A member of the community posted the Sex Workers Myths. If you haven't read it yet please do so.

Most of what you hear about the sex industry is bullshit. Even magazine articles supposedly interviewing working girls(like the one passed around and sneered at the other night at work) write utter crap and are still perpetuating various whore-cliches; the young runaway, the hooker with the heart of gold, the sad addict, blechh!

Myth 1. "We're sex crazed nymphos".
The one is the funniest myth of all, in the girls room we always laugh about the clients who say "You love this don't you?". It is a job, done for money. Women who choose this work usually don't have that many other options. Myself, for example, I took it up when I compared working fulltime washing dishes to what I'd earn on a slow night, and whoring was still the better option. Even now, it is a job that I do between 1 night a fortnight to 4 nights a week depending on bills, school fees, etc. When I don't NEED the money, I don't work that much. I work from 7pm til 4 or 7am, sleep til midday. It doesn't cut into my family or study time too much. Washing dishes would.

Myth 2. "We're all junkies."
Wrong, sure there are addicts working in the sex industry, by and large the largest group in the sex industry would be single and/or working class mothers.

Myth 3. "We're damaged, abused, would have to be fucked up to do that job."
No, just poor! Like the world in general there are people who've experienced abuse, or other issues working in the sex industry. There are also women who haven't experienced it, who had happy childhoods, etc. Every pitying article about sex workers contains this bullshit. "if only these women knew they were worth more than that, they have other options" puhlease! Most sex workers are choosing between menial jobs or whoring. One pays better and fits into a busy mothers schedule easier.

Myth 4. "We're diseased".
In over seven years in the sex industry I have never contracted a STI. I have had 3 broken condoms (and 2 of those I discovered before the client 'finished'). We have check-ups every month to get swabs. Blood tests done every 3 months. You must provide certificates to work (this was the case even when sex work was illegal).

A small study in my country indicated that sex workers used condoms at a greater frequency than non-sex workers in relationships (outside of sex work), and were far better educated about STI's than the general population.

The routine over here is clients have the genitals checked once entering the room (for redness, smell or any other signs of STI), then they shower. Condoms are mandatory (for oral as well as vaginal). Beds are covered with towels which are changed after every job. You shower after each client. A lot cleaner than one-night stands!

Myth 5. "We're selling our bodies".
Yeah, as much as a plumber or a hairdresser. We are exchanging money for sexual services, not renting orifices. There are many acts I won't do, places on my body they can't touch, roles I won't play. Every worker has different boundaries, you have the right to establish them and leave a booking if they aren't respected.

Myth 6. "you have to fuck your boss at the interview"
Never ever heard of this EVER. Unlike every other job you go for (where you have to convince the boss to employ you) they try to convince you to work there. You don't need to take off clothes, perform acts. In my experince I usually get a tour of the premises, a discussion of the fees and bonuses and ten minutes of them kissing my arse about what a great place it is.

Another thread worth reading:
http://www.girl-mom.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10177&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=sex+work&start=0

Girl-Mom is a safe space for lots of young women and we want to keep it that way. If you see negative comments please report it to a mod.

Thanks,
Mod_Squad