My story is my power. Reality TV is not for real. Most of us suffered childhood sexual abuse, domestic abuse, or homelessness. A lot suffered from all three. When you peel back the layers, there is usually a reason this happens.
For me, prostitution was the culmination of a lifetime of trauma. I was nine years old when I was first sexually abused. Later I was targeted by a pedophile who was on the staff of the private school I went to. After I dropped out of school at 15 I was in and out of my home. Sometimes the solution is actually the problem. I was in the life for several years when a john offered me room and board to pay for my college education.
But the idea that prostitution would be a way up was a lie. It had the opposite effect on me. Online does not equal safe. People say that a website is a tool to screen out potentially dangerous sex buyers. Exceptions should not dictate the rules. Even if a small percentage of people in the sex trade say they are choosing this, that definitely was not the case for most of us. Too many of our voices have been silenced in the debate about whether prostitution should be treated like just another job.
We need to talk about the economy. I may not call myself a sex worker, but I still see those who do as my sisters. They are going through the same pain I went through. I see them fast-forwarded by years every time I look in the mirror.
And I understand that sometimes you have to convince yourself that this is your only option in order to keep doing it. World Without Exploitation is a fiscally-sponsored project of the Tides Center, a c 3 nonprofit organization.
