Episode 15 - Sex Work Is Work

Sex work refers to services provided to clients where the exchange of sex, sexual acts and/or intimacy are negotiated for payment or gifts. Sex work is always consensual and between consenting adults. It is not always physical or done in person. Different forms of sex work include pornographic film acting, peepshow performers, escort services, sexual surrogates, phone sex, sexting, cam work and physical sex among others. Sex work is often misunderstood and misrepresented. Although there are sex workers who turn to sex work out of the need to earn a livelihood – the same reason most of us work even when we’d rather not and even when we don’t always enjoy our jobs. Not all sex workers do it only for survival. There are plenty of sex workers who enjoy the vocation. Choosing to do sex work is an active decision made about one’s body, autonomy, time and a means of securing one’s livelihood. Sex workers create opportunities for their clients to explore their desires and pleasure. Conflating sex work with human trafficking undermines sex work as work, perpetuates harmful stereotypes and discrimination, and overlooks sex workers’ abilities to make choices.On this episode we will be speaking to Anita, affectionately known as Pam, from South Africa and Nyarath from Kenya. They will be shedding light on the experiences of sex work under criminalisation.