As a feminist, I had always rejected porn and other forms of popular culture that suggested that my value depended on how much I appealed to men. This was my stance until I reached my 40s, when I embarked on a research project on the sex industry. That was when my previous assumptions about resisting objectification were challenged and transformed.

One might assume that the sex industry is the epitome of objectification for women. And while that may hold true in many aspects - and was indeed my initial expectation - it was not what I and my co-author, Trish Ruebottom, discovered.

Our study involved interviewing women and transgender entrepreneurs who were working in various sectors within the industry, and resulted in 86 interviews over a span of seven years. The work led to multiple journal publications that are the indicators of academic success. However, the reality I learned about objectification (which I did not get to discuss in those articles) was that resisting it is not simply a matter of rejecting its manifestations and sensationalism in the media, pop culture and sex.

While I opposed the idea of the cultural objectification of women, I realized that my very conventional life as a university professor, with two children, a husband, and a dog was rife with it.

Philosopher Martha Nussbaum identifies several different forms of objectification that can be grouped into three categories: being used for the purposes of others, being denied one’s own subjectivity, and being treated and perceived as passive and agreeable. When our research prompted me to examine my own life closely, it became evident that I was an object and, even in the times that I was not necessarily being objectified, I still was not a subject.

OnlyFans is a platform that allows people to post and sell their own content, mostly of an adult nature. The site was founded in 2016 by the Stokely family from Essex, but it is now owned by Leonid Radvinsky, a 41-year-old Ukrainian-American businessman. He is the sole shareholder of the company and made $338 million in dividends last year. That’s about $1.3m per working day, or $926,000 per day if you account for weekends.

The site has become very popular among content creators, especially sex workers, who can earn 80% of what they make from subscriptions, tips and extra content. OnlyFans keeps the remaining 20%. The site was praised for giving sex workers more control and autonomy over their work, but some have complained that celebrities have taken over the platform and pushed them down the rankings.

Kelly Blair, the CEO of OnlyFans, said that the company had a strong performance in 2021 and continued to grow its creator and fan communities and increase its global revenue. He said that the company was committed to providing an effective and safe environment for creators over the age of 18 across all genres to monetize their content and connect with their fans.

According to a regulatory filing from parent company Fenix International, OnlyFans saw $5.55 billion in total spending by users for the fiscal year ending 30 November, 2022. That was a 16% increase from the previous year, with the creators taking home nearly $4.5 billion of that amount. The number of users subscribing to the platform hit 239 million, an increase from the 188 million users in 2021.

OnlyFans has been a success story for many people who post their own content, especially those who make adult content. The platform has been friendly to porn and has attracted millions of users who are willing to pay for exclusive access to their favourite creators.

: OnlyFans Owner Made $338 Million In Dividends Last Year : OnlyFans: How sex workers are being pushed out by celebrities : OnlyFans CEO Kelly Blair on Company’s Growth : OnlyFans sees $5.55 billion in user spending for fiscal year ending November : OnlyFans reports £725m profit as user numbers surge

In a strategic move that echoes the evolving landscape of the adult entertainment industry, Alexzandra Kekesi, previously the Director of Marketing at Pornhub, has ascended to the position of Head of Community and Brand at the renowned adult content platform. This significant promotion marks a substantial shift in the company's direction and objectives.

Kekesi's expanded role will encompass not only overseeing the platform's creative endeavors and brand positioning, but also a pivotal commitment to combating discrimination against sex work. The announcement, delivered by the company on a Wednesday, shed light on the scope of Kekesi's responsibilities in propelling the company's vision forward.

At the forefront of this shift is Kekesi's staunch stance on sex positivity. As Asa Akira, a prominent performer within the platform, emphasized, Kekesi champions sex work with unwavering vigor. Akira expressed that Kekesi ardently advocates for all members of the community, particularly those who confront additional marginalization. Through her dedication, Kekesi ensures that their voices resonate not just audibly, but emphatically celebrated.

In June, the digital domain statistics revealed Pornhub's robust prominence, solidifying its position as the fourth most-frequented website in the United States. The platform garnered an astonishing 1.86 billion visits, according to data sourced from software firm SemRush. In this virtual hierarchy, only the titans Google, YouTube, and Facebook loomed larger.

However, the platform has not been exempt from controversy. A wave of backlash engulfed Pornhub, resulting in its prohibition in Utah, Virginia, and Mississippi. Adding to the narrative of turbulence, the platform's Instagram account faced permanent closure due to alleged violations of Meta's regulations, as reported by various press outlets.

Behind the scenes, a significant ownership transition has transpired. MindGeek, the company at the helm of Pornhub, hailing from the bustling city of Montreal, underwent a transformational acquisition. Ethical Capital Partners, a Canadian private equity entity, finalized the acquisition in March. This maneuver has indubitably introduced new dynamics to the platform's strategic trajectory.

In the ever-evolving adult entertainment landscape, Kekesi's ascension to spearhead community and branding initiatives marks a poignant chapter in Pornhub's evolution. The platform's enduring resonance in the digital realm is mirrored by its commitment to equitable representation, pushing against societal bias, and embracing the essence of sex positivity. As the industry undergoes transformation, all eyes remain riveted on the brand's trajectory under Kekesi's insightful stewardship.

The article "Why Men Pay Women for Sex: A Comprehensive Analysis of 54 Studies" delves into the evolving perspectives on sex work over the last two decades and provides insights into the motivations and justifications of men who engage in paying for sexual services. The authors of the article, two Israeli researchers, draw on 54 studies conducted across various countries to analyze the attitudes of men who visit sex workers. These studies encompass a range of methodologies, including interviews with men who pay for sex, focus groups, and online forum posts.

The authors note a shift in the discourse surrounding sex work, which has moved from labeling it as immoral to emphasizing the victimization of female sex workers through human trafficking. The call for the decriminalization of adult sex work by Amnesty International and anti-trafficking organizations highlights the changing dynamics of this debate.

The findings from the analyzed studies reveal a range of reasons and justifications provided by men for paying for sex. Many men consider sex a fundamental male need, and they see paying for sexual services as a normal and natural behavior. The studies indicate that men may turn to sex workers when they lack sexual partners or when their partners don't meet their sexual needs. Additionally, some men view paying for sex as a means to gain sexual experience or to cope with circumstances like failed marriages or disabilities that affect their attractiveness to potential partners.

While the majority of men expressed little moral conflict about paying for sex, some demonstrated ambivalence or shame. They believed that paying for sex compromised their masculinity, reflected weakness or sex addiction, lacked emotional intimacy, and contributed to exploitation of sex workers by pimps and traffickers.

The authors also discuss the prevalence of human trafficking in the context of sex work. They highlight the discrepancy between different estimates of trafficking, and suggest that while human trafficking is a grave issue, some anti-trafficking activists may exaggerate its extent.

Ultimately, the article calls for the decriminalization and legalization of adult sex work, emphasizing the empowerment of sex workers and the need to address gender inequality and discrimination. The article underscores the complexity of the issue, the diversity of men's motivations for paying for sex, and the importance of informed policy decisions that consider both the rights of sex workers and broader societal concerns.

Bethnal Green Working Men's Club
42-46 Pollard Row,  London,  E2 6NB
Friday 15th September 2023 at 08:00 PM

At $exquisite, our endeavors encompass the creation of innovative, politically resonant, and celebratory artistic expressions, serving as a platform for artists engaged in sex work. We exude a sense of enchantment, wield multifaceted talents, and embody empowerment. We cordially invite you to partake in our festivities, where we honor and rejoice in these attributes. 💋🌈🔥❤️‍

Join us for an event that combines queer performance and revelry, featuring artists from the sex work community celebrating Sex Worker Pride. Our program boasts an eclectic range of acts, including pole dance, comedy, poetry, burlesque, and more. Moreover, an exclusive post-event gathering lasting until 2am will be presented by a surprise collective (to be announced).

Lineup details forthcoming.

Distinguished past performers include Megan Prescott (of Skins, E4), Rebecca Crow (from Suicide Girls), Eveyln Carnate (of Bitten Peach), Hoopsy Daisy, as well as numerous artists affiliated with ELSC, Cybertease, Bristol Sex Workers Collective, among others.

Testimonials from attendees:

"Sexquisite stands as my preferred nocturnal pursuit in London."

"The show far surpassed my expectations, featuring a lineup of exceptional performers who exhibited wit, humor, and above all, potency. Applause!"

"Sexquisite orchestrated the most remarkable spectacle I've ever witnessed. If you weren't in attendance, you missed an unparalleled experience."

"Sexquisite was truly remarkable! A blend of professionalism, captivation, and enlightenment. An ideal fusion of entertainment and informative content, where authentic insights about sex work, conveyed by the sex workers themselves, were shared."

Guided by our resident enchantress of the night - April Fiasco 🔥

GRATUITY CONTRIBUTIONS - Support our talented sex worker artists by bestowing a rain of contributions! 💸

MERCHANDISE - Acquire artwork crafted by sex workers! 💃

DRAWING - Enter our drawing for a prospect to win enticing sex worker merchandise!

Opt for a supplementary donation during checkout to provide extra backing for Sexquisite.

Entrance at 8 pm, show commencing at 8:30 pm until 11 pm.

Regrettably, the venue lacks wheelchair accessibility. Kindly reach out to sexquisite.events@gmail.com if you possess specific accessibility requirements.

For those solely interested in the subsequent gathering, access starts at 10:30 pm.

PLEASE REMEMBER:

• Seating operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
• No bachelor or bachelorette parties.
• ALL ADVANCE TICKETS remain valid until 11:30 pm on the event night. After this time, entry cannot be ensured, and spaces may be reassigned to those without tickets in the queue.
• The final admittance to the venue is midnight.

Prostitution, often referred to as the “world’s oldest profession,” is a persistent phenomenon that has existed in various forms across different cultures, societies, and locations throughout history. However, the moral and legal status of prostitution varies widely among countries, and so does its prevalence. A relevant question that emerges is: which country has the highest rate of prostitution?

To address this question, one must take into account the multiple factors that influence the occurrence of prostitution. These may include socioeconomic conditions, legal frameworks, and cultural norms. Moreover, obtaining reliable data on this sensitive topic is challenging, as it often depends on estimates and research on the illicit trade. Nevertheless, based on the available information, it is possible to identify some countries with notably high rates of prostitution.

It should be noted that some countries are renowned for having large sex industries due to tourism, local demand, or economic necessity. Countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, and parts of Germany (where prostitution is legal and regulated) are frequently cited in debates about the sex industry. However, having a prominent sex industry does not necessarily imply that these countries have the “most” prostitution; it simply means that it is more visible and regulated.

Prostitution is a widespread phenomenon, with varying rates across different countries. This section provides an overview of the countries where prostitution is most common.

Germany has legalized prostitution, resulting in an increase in the number of sex workers and brothels. Thailand has a large sex tourism industry, attracting visitors from around the world. Brazil also has a high rate of sex tourism, especially during the Carnival season. China has technically outlawed prostitution, but it is still prevalent, particularly in urban areas.

Colombia has a sizable prostitution market, driven mainly by drug-related violence and poverty. India and the Philippines also face high rates of prostitution due to poverty and a lack of employment opportunities for women. Spain continues to struggle with the issue of prostitution, as it is neither fully legal nor criminalized.

Australia, Finland, Bolivia, and the Netherlands have some regulation of sex work, leading to a degree of tolerance toward the industry. France and Denmark have illegalized prostitution, but it still occurs in these countries, partly due to their appeal to tourists.

Mexico, the United States, Argentina, Canada, and Nevada (where it is legal) have considerable levels of prostitution, with authorities attempting to regulate or combat the industry. Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand have significant issues with prostitution despite efforts to curb the trade.

Some European countries, such as Lithuania, Austria, Latvia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Belgium, Italy, and Slovenia have varying degrees of regulation or penalties for prostitution. Finally, even in countries like Zimbabwe, where prostitution is illegal, it persists as an underground business.

The factors that contribute to high rates of prostitution in these countries include poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, and global demand for sex services. These factors should be taken into account when discussing prostitution in a specific country.

A hidden camera was found by Cami Strella and Lev Lieben, an OnlyFans couple, in their vacation rental. They were horrified to learn that their intimate moments were being recorded without their permission. This incident raises questions about the privacy and safety of content creators.

Strella and Lieben make videos for their OnlyFans fans on a regular basis. But they never expected that someone would spy on them in their private space. This incident violated their personal boundaries and made them feel unsafe. It shows that content creation does not imply consent to be watched by anyone.

This incident underscores the need for privacy and consent for all people, regardless of what they do or how they live. Everyone has the right to feel secure and comfortable.

Sadly, this is not the first time that hidden cameras have been found in rental properties. It is important for people to be aware and cautious when staying in unfamiliar places. Looking for hidden cameras or other devices before checking in can help prevent privacy breaches.

It is also vital for rental property owners and managers to take responsibility for the safety and privacy of their guests. They should conduct regular checks and audits to ensure that no one is violating the privacy of their guests. This can help avoid incidents like this in the future.

Campaigners have warned that the freezing of bank accounts for prostitues leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and violence.

The warning comes after former UKIP leader Nigel Farage demanded compensation from private bank Coutts after it closed his account, partly due to his political views.

Two bank bosses, including NatWest Group's chief executive Dame Alison Rose, stepped down last week, with Ms Rose admitting she was the source of a BBC story stating Farage's bank account was shut on commercial grounds.

Audrey Caradonna, a spokesperson for the Sex Workers' Union, told The Independent: "For prostitutes, suddenly losing access to your bank account and your money isn't a freak occurrence but an all too common nightmare."

She said that the freezing of bank accounts leaves sex workers unable to withdraw money or make payments, which can make them increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and violence.

"A lack of funds means many are forced to take on riskier work, such as working in isolated locations or accepting cash payments," she said.

"This puts them at risk of being exploited by clients or even attacked."

Caradonna called on banks to stop freezing the bank accounts of sex workers and to ensure that they have access to the financial services they need.

The freezing of bank accounts is a serious issue that can have a devastating impact on sex workers.

It is important that banks take steps to ensure that this does not happen, and that they provide support to those who have been affected.

• The freezing of bank accounts can have a significant impact on the mental and physical health of sexworkers.
• It can also make it difficult for them to pay their rent, bills, and other expenses.
• The freezing of bank accounts can also lead to sex workers being evicted from their homes or losing their jobs.
• Campaigners are calling on banks to introduce clear and transparent policies on the freezing of bank accounts, and to provide more support to those who have been affected.

The Home Office minister has proposed outlawing the payment of money for sex as part of an effort to prevent women from being trafficked into prostitution.

Sarah Jane Dines told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee on Wednesday that demand for the services of sex workers was "part of human nature" and had been "around for thousands of years". She suggested that despite the government's failure to follow other countries in adopting the "Nordic model" of making it a crime to pay for sex she was in favour of such action. "Sex work, the demand is there, it's unfortunately part of human nature, I would like for it to be outlawed," the minister told MPs. "What we are doing is using the legal system to make the UK the most unfairly country for this sort of practice that we can." Ms Dines added: "The sex industry, the sex trade, prostitution, the trafficking in general, the abuse of others for money or power has been around for thousands of years. Reducing that demand is difficult. There have been various models across the world in different countries, people have tried different things, we know for example in the sex trade the Nordic model, we know other countries have tried outlawing various practices. What is clear is that discouraging demand is very difficult."

On April 20, 2023, Twitter finally abolished legacy verified accounts. This meant that only users who had paid for Twitter Blue were now eligible to be verified. This change led to a number of different reactions from users.

Some users, such as Elon Musk's fanboys, were angry that they would now have to pay for verification. They argued that verification was a valuable service that should be free. Others, such as Twitter Blue subscribers, were happy to pay for the extra features that came with verification. They felt that the benefits of verification outweighed the cost. Still others, such as celebrities, were surprised to find that they had retained their verification even though they had not paid for Twitter Blue. They wondered why they had been given special treatment.

However, there was one group of users who were not discussed as much as the others. These were sex workers. Before the change, sex workers had not been able to get verified accounts. However, after the change, they were now a group of users who who could become verified. This meant that sex workers would now have to pay $8 a month to be verified.

This change was met with mixed reactions from sex workers. Some were happy that they could now be verified, even if it meant paying for it. Others were angry that they were being singled out and forced to pay for a service that was once free. Still others were worried that the cost of verification would make it more difficult for them to operate their businesses.

Jacqueline Gold, the founder of Ann Summers, a leading retailer of lingerie and sex toys, passed away last week at the age of 62 after battling breast cancer for seven years. Gold's passing is a great loss to the business world, especially for women across the UK, who have been empowered by her contribution to female sexual liberation.

In a statement released by Ann Summers on Friday, it was announced that Gold had passed away, leaving her husband, Dan, daughter, Scarlett, sister, Vanessa, and brother-in-law, Nick, by her side. Vanessa described her sister as an "absolute warrior" throughout her cancer journey.

Gold joined Ann Summers in the late 1970s and took over as CEO in 1987. She transformed the business into a multi-million-pound enterprise by making it more female-friendly and introducing the concept of hosting Tupperware-style parties to sell lingerie and sex toys to women in the privacy of their homes. Gold's "no men allowed" policy at these parties enabled women to discuss their desires and sexual freedom openly, which was a radical departure from the prevailing social norms of the time.

Gold was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for her outstanding contributions to women in business, social enterprise, and entrepreneurship. In addition to being a successful businesswoman, she was also a role model for many women across the UK.

Gold's father, David Gold, co-founded Ann Summers with his brother Ralph in 1972, and he played a pivotal role in transforming the business from a small collection of standard sex shops to a nationwide high street phenomenon. David passed away just two months before Jacqueline.

Although Ann Summers has closed several branches due to the decline of the British high street, it still operates 81 stores across the UK, Ireland, and the Channel Islands. Gold's legacy will continue to inspire and empower women for generations to come. Her sister, Vanessa, has succeeded her as CEO of the company.

Hugh Grant cracked jokes about his infamous 1995 sex scandal with the hosts of US talk show The View on Thursday (16 March).

Grant was nabbed by Los Angeles police for indulging in “raunchy conduct” in a public place with a sex worker named Divine Brown. He was in a long-term relationship with actor/model Liz Hurley at the time, who probably wasn’t too thrilled about it.

On The View, host Sunny Hostin asked the 62-year-old actor about his campaigns against the British tabloid press.

Everyone thinks, ‘Oh, well he’s just bitter because he got caught with his pants down in 1995,’” Grant said to hysterical laughter from the hosts and studio audience.

Hostin’s co-host Whoopi Goldberg interjected: “But you know what, really, who hasn’t? I mean, not me personally, but I’m sure someone has."

The actor then continued: “But actually it had nothing to do with that because that was never uncovered by tabloids. It was that the bloody police gave everyone the information. It was nothing to do with that. They were just jealous of my charming accent and floppy hair.

These big newspaper owners – largely non-tax-paying newspaper owners – are living above the law and invading the privacy of people whose kids are being killed in a road accident or whatever to get the sensational article,” he said.

No one dares to take them on in Britain because they’re so scared of them, especially the politicians. That’s why politicians, really in my country, are chosen by the press… That’s what my campaign is about. And also getting free dental care for everyone."

OnlyFans, a platform where creators sell content directly to viewers, has been hailed by Megan Barton-Hanson, a prominent sex worker advocate in the UK, as a tool that gives queer women in sex work “control” over their own boundaries and profits. However, this positive portrayal of OnlyFans may not capture the full complexity of sex work as a lived experience. Sex work is influenced by various personal and cultural factors that vary across time and space, and it cannot be easily reduced to binary oppositions such as empowering/oppressive, sex positive/sex negative, feminist/anti-feminist². Therefore, a more nuanced and contextualized analysis of OnlyFans and its impact on queer women in sex work is needed.

According to Barton-Hanson, a former stripper and a prominent sex worker advocate in the UK, platforms such as OnlyFans represent a “positive direction” for queer women in sex work. She argues that these platforms enable sex workers to “cut out the middle-man” and have more control over their own boundaries and profits. She claims that this makes sex work “a much safer and lucrative workplace” for them.

However, this optimistic view of OnlyFans may not account for some of the challenges and risks that sex workers still face on and off the platform. For instance, there have been allegations of men using OnlyFans to exploit and coerce women into performing for content. Moreover, the platform faced backlash in 2021 for announcing a (later reversed) ban on sexually explicit content, which would have harmed the livelihoods of many adult creators.

Furthermore, these issues are embedded within a broader patriarchal context where sex workers are stigmatized, marginalized and vulnerable to violence. Dr Olivia Snow, a dominatrix and research fellow at UCLA, cautions against framing sex work within a simple empowerment narrative. She contends that “at the end of the day, it’s still labour to survive under capitalism” .

Snow, a bisexual dominatrix and research fellow at UCLA, challenges the notion that sex work is inherently empowering for sex workers on a systemic level. She asserts that sex work is “labour to survive under capitalism”  and that stigma is a major obstacle for sex workers’ well-being and dignity. She admits that she would not have any reservations about doing sex work herself “were it not for such widespread stigma that is just so dehumanising”.

However, she also acknowledges that sex work can have positive effects for consumers, especially those who identify as queer or kinky. She suggests that these consumers may find empowerment and representation in seeing “queer joy, queer sex, kinky sex” on platforms such as OnlyFans.

Queer sex content appears to be increasing in popularity and diversity. According to Pornhub’s Year in Review report, ‘Lesbian’ was the most-watched category of 2022, up from second most-watched in 2021. While most lesbian porn has historically been produced for a male audience, the rise of creator-led content on OnlyFans may be changing that. The report also found that lesbian porn was viewed more by women (69 per cent) than by men, indicating that a significant number of heterosexual women are also consuming it.

According to Snow, the sex industry is predominantly composed of queer women, and cis-heterosexual women are a minority in this field. However, Barton-Hanson, who identifies as bisexual, argues that most of these women are subjected to the objectification of male filmmakers, especially in mainstream pornography.

She claims that this type of pornography caters to the male gaze and neglects the women’s pleasure. She also suggests that this has negative implications for women who are exploring their sexuality and rely on pornography as a source of information about lesbian sex.

Therefore, she supports the idea that actors should upload their own videos with their real-life partners. She believes that this would provide a more authentic and diverse representation of queer women and their sexual experiences in pornography.

Universities need to wise up to when students are doing work that’s dodgy, unfair, or risky. That could be in pubs, shops, or other casual jobs – and it could be in sex work. The myth of student sex work is that it’s only done by 19-year-old students who want a sugar daddy to buy them fancy stuff – not a parent-student who’s taking a well-paid and flexible job in between juggling studying, housework, and looking after the kids. Not that I’m judging either way – I’ve seen both – but sex workers and their reasons for doing it are different (in fact, the English Collective of Prostitutes found in 2019 that most sex workers are mums).

Sex work is different, too. Sugarbabying (usually a sexual relationship with – often much older – person in exchange for money and/or gifts) and escorting (in-person paid sex) are common. The recent cost of living survey by Canterbury Christ Church SU found that of the (few) students who had done sex work, sending used clothes was the most common type of sex work done by their students, followed by intimate photos and OnlyFans. 58.3 per cent of the students who had done sex work in the past year said it was for money reasons – with a fair bit of these saying it was specifically to pay their way through uni. Whether we like it or not – students are getting paid for a kind of work to get through the cost of living crisis, And that’s work.

Do you remember what happened back in November 2021 at the University of Durham Students’ Union? They got a lot of flak for teaching their staff about student sex work. Some people even said they didn’t care about other kinds of work (that’s not true, by the way, they did).

They did the training because they wanted their staff to know the facts and the myths about sex work. That way, they could help student sex workers in different ways. Maybe they need some money, maybe they want to quit, or maybe they just want to feel supported. It’s important that student sex workers – and trust me, they are out there – feel that their institution is on their side.

Life is getting harder, right? More and more students have to work part-time, and some of them even do sex work. I’m worried about how many of them don’t know how to stay safe, because their universities don’t tell them anything. Maybe the universities are scared of what the media or the politicians will say if they do.

There was this student sex worker I met when I worked at a students’ union. She had a nasty client who knew about this thing called “morality clause” – it’s when the university can kick you out if you don’t behave the way they want, and they have used it against student sex workers. He was blackmailing her with that. She didn’t know that her university didn’t have one until three months later. If her university had shown her some support (I mean, support for sex workers, not for sex work), this wouldn’t have happened.

Some people always say bad things about sex work. They say it’s different from other work because it’s humiliating – but that’s just their opinion, and it says more about them than about sex work. Besides, from the students we talked to, it seems that humiliation is not something that only happens in sex work.

If we don’t tell students how to be safe, they will look for it somewhere else – and they might get the wrong information. I googled “escort” and checked out The Student Room. I saw some scary, wrong, and risky answers from students to students who wanted to be escorts. And nobody said anything about the laws or the problems that come with the work that students really need to know – like if two or more sex workers share a house or live together, that’s an illegal brothel and they can go to jail for seven years.

Dear Mr Andrews by Lotte Latham is published by Guts Publishing and is out no

Escorting is a safer and simpler option, Latham has decided. “I just don’t like the idea of not being able to operate as a business,” she says. “Back in ancient Greece, prostitutes had guilds. They were business women in their own right. With escorting, I can check other people’s profiles and see what people are charging. There’s a two-way reviewing system, so I can see if a punter’s had a bad review from someone, and I can ask for a deposit.”

Latham hopes people won’t go in expecting Dear Mr Andrews to be a glamorous Secret Diary of a Call Girl-style beach read. Actually, it’s more in the realism vein of a recent spate of Australian titles written by sex workers: Come by Rita Therese; Nothing But My Body by Tilly Lawless; Money for Something by Mia Walsch and Happy Endings by Bella Green. Similarly to many of those, Latham’s book is a call to arms to decriminalise sex work, which she considers increasingly urgent as the cost-of-living crisis sees more women signing up as escorts, to fewer clients. “Therefore the prices go down and people can push things like not wearing condoms,” she says. “The exploitation level goes up when there’s the need.”

There are some people on the internet who don’t want to be found. That seems to be the case for the elusive, mysterious owner of Stripperweb, a 20-year-old forum for exotic dancers and sex workers. With just one week of advance notice, the forum’s unknown owner announced that the website will shut down on February 1, erasing the decades-long digital footprint of a community on the margins.

Sex work T shirts

I have no affiliation with this website, and they have not asked me to advertise them.  This is posted just for your information.

Where police claim that raids were made on brothels because there is trafficking occurring, in actual fact no referrals are made to support services in 7 out of 10 of these raids.

Researchers warn that police officers are misleading the public by claiming they have rescued trafficking victims in these raids.  Police regularly conduct raids on brothels on the pretext they are saving trafficking victims.

Researchers requested information on the number of women identified as trafficked since 2016.  The report found women identified as trafficked were not entering into the National Referral scheme.

Researchers stated that the high number of cases where trafficking victims are not referred suggested that the police were misidentifying sex workers.

Dan Vajzovic, the National Police Chief Council’s lead for prostitution and sex work, told The Independent he is working alongside government officials to reassess brothel keeping legislation.

Politicians and campaigners said this marks a “milestone moment” as well as a change in approach from the police – arguing overhauling the law could save women’s lives.

Mr Vajzovic, Bedfordshire Police’s temporary deputy chief constable, said present laws mean brothel keeping is an offence even if it is done to “improve their safety”.

Commenting on the police officer’s remarks, Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, told The Independent: Right now, too many sex workers work alone for fear of prosecution, increasing the risks they face. “Changing the law on brothel keeping so that sex workers could work from the same premise would be an important step in the right direction. 

Author Nadia Whittome and Lydia Caradonna

As food banks fail to keep up with demand, and families cannot afford to put money on the meter, more people, particularly women, are turning to sex work. These women are not being pushed into prostitution by abusers, traffickers or pimps, but by the wilful neglect of the state. At the same time, those who were already undertaking sex work are reporting that they feel pressure to take greater risks, or offer services they usually wouldn’t.

One of us is an MP, the other a brothel worker, and we’re united in wanting to address this dire situation with solutions rooted in evidence, not moralism – solutions that sex workers themselves support.

Medecins du Monde’s damning report on the impact of the Nordic model in France concluded that it had had “a detrimental effect on sex workers’ safety, health and overall living conditions”. 

Financial times article reports that the conservative MP Caroline Nokes will write to the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office, asking them to look at the factors driving people into sex work. It is felt that the economic downturn is forcing many women into sex work.

It is felt that the archaic laws on sex work should be reviewed, this falls into two camps, such as decriminalisation as in New Zealand. Belgium and some states of Australia.  T

The other camp proposed the criminalisation of clients such in Ireland, Sweden and France. If sex workers are having a raw deal, with more working and less clients, then criminalising their clients will make them even more vulnerable.

A third of people dream of having sex involving a total stranger.  The survey of 2000 people aged over 18, conducted by Lovehoney has found the 32% of people dream of having sex with a stranger. The survey also found 34% have dreamt about sleeping with an ex-partner, and 35% have dreamt about having sex with their friend.

X Factor star Katie Waissel’s grandmother, Sheila Vogel-Coupe, who was known as Britain’s oldest sex worker, has died at the age of 93, her family have confirmed.

“We were so proud of her. Her passing deserves a mention because she was so unique,” Sheila’s daughter Josie, who is Waissel’s aunt, said in a statement.

Vogel-Coupe, who appeared on the Channel 4 documentary My Granny The Escort, began her career as an escort following the death of her second husband, aeronautical engineer Noel Coupe in 2004.

Speaking about her career choice in the past, she said: “The most important reason is because I love sex. Even thinking about it makes me feel better.

Book detailing research into the sex industry by Bristol University. This book seeks to bring to the centre the voices of those directly involved in different areas of today’s sex industry.

This research is important for two reasons. First, it addresses the ethics of who speaks on behalf of the sex industry and the challenges of producing collaborative research. Second, this work is novel in revisiting participants over time to ask them to reflect back on their experience of being involved in a research project and of being represented in a government report.

The book comes out with some interesting recommendations for policy makers, police and academics.

For policy makers
• The overwhelming issue identified by participants in this book was the legal and policy framework for the sex industry, particularly the ban on paired or collective working.
• Both brothel workers and erotic dancers/strippers identified the employment practices and working conditions in managed brothels and strip venues as being the key drivers of harm, rather than commercial sexual services per se. These include:
◊ exorbitant house fees (commissions paid to venue managers or for reception, security and cleaning facilities in managed brothels);
◊ toxic cultures (use of drink or drugs or policies which promote competition – and risk-taking – between workers);
◊ the unstable and inconsistently policed regulatory environment, which deters the reporting of crimes and perpetuates employment malpractice.
• The insecure work status of many involved in the sex industry meant that they were unable to access either welfare or income support through the pandemic. Finding ways to protect the groups least able to withstand income volatility should be the priority of all governments, in ordinary and extraordinary times.

For police
• Low trust in the police means that many sex workers will not report crime which occurs either within or outside of sex working. This allows perpetrators to act with relative impunity.
• Policing should be consistent, fair and focused on individuals who perpetrate violence and exploitation, and on reducing harm for sex workers.

For academics and policy makers
• While robust evidence is important to making good policy, repeated consultations and data collection without any resulting material change to the lives of those involved in the sex industry is damaging to trust. Short funding timeframes and shifting political and policy attention mean that the impact of such work on participants is often not recognised.
• In seeking to ‘represent’ the sex industry, we must be mindful of who speaks and why. Experiences may vary depending on setting and individual context.
• A less punitive legal framework for those selling sex and more robust social support (to manage loss of income, health challenges, becoming a parent/carer, migrating, or enduring discrimination) would better empower people to determine their involvement in the sex industry.
 

A sleep-deprived neighbour has taken to social media to complain how a couple's steamy sex sessions is making it impossible to go about their everyday life. The anonymous neighbour posted on the Mumsnet's forum to ask for advice after the racy sessions became too much for them to handle.

Responses ranged from playing canned laughter and offering a running racing-style commentary to shoving a note through the door. They poster said their flat was in a converted period house, so they hadn't expected "soundproofing to be the best".

It's only ever on the weekend, usually starting in the morning and then periodically throughout the rest of the day. They have woken me up on multiple occasions. Without going into too much detail, the woman is a screamer.

"I'm glad she's having a good time but I'm so fed up of not being able to sleep, watch TV, or just be in my own home at the weekend without being disturbed by them. If it was an occasional thing, fine, but it's every single weekend without fail.

Setting your boundaries for sex is so important for everybody, including sex workers.

Consent isn’t automatic or assumed, regardless of the length or nature of an established relationship and can always be retracted. Whether you are meeting a person for the first time, have been in a committed relationship for years, or are married, partners never have the right to engage intimately with you without your enthusiastic consent.

Sexual assault of a spouse is still sexual assault, as is sexual assault of a sex worker, and everyone has the right to assert their physical boundaries and retract consent at any time.

Activist, pop star, crypto artist, feminist icon, mother. Nadya Tolokonnikova, founding member of the protest art collective Pussy Riot, is a woman who wears many hats. And a hat might be all she’s wearing in her latest vocation: a sex worker on the adult content platform OnlyFans.

When I opened my OnlyFans account, I was excited but also concerned about potentially being subjected to rude and exploitative comments on the platform. But I found that the people who already follow me continued to follow me on OnlyFans. They turned out to be respectful, supportive, and generally great. So instead of receiving unsolicited dick pics or dealing with people who would try to degrade me, I got myself another community of people who support me and make me feel valued, and with whom I have interesting conversations.

I’m a girl from a small provincial city in Russia. I grew up with negative views of sex work but I started visiting strip clubs and talking with workers in the community, and that shifted my perspective. In time, I immersed myself in this world and found that it empowers me.

How will the death of Twitter affect sex workers? Some in the sex industry are worried that the death of twitter will affect their livelihoods.  Other platforms are stressful, suspensions and content strikes on other platforms for sharing artwork, much of which features abstract depictions of naked women.  

Twitter is one of the few platforms that allows explicit content. In recent years, it has become the center of a flourishing community of sex workers who connect with fans, advertise their content and educate other “Not Safe For Work” creators.

Many sex workers said Twitter is a necessity for them as it allows them to advertise their services, from one-on-one cam sessions to fetish art commissions. It also provides a vital centralized space to share resources. 

Carol Leigh, a San Francisco activist who is credited with coining the term “sex work” and who sought for decades to improve conditions for prostitutes and others in the adult entertainment business, has died. She was 71.

Kate Marquez, the executor of her estate, said Leigh died Wednesday of cancer, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday.

A former prostitute, Leigh devoted herself to campaigning on behalf of those in the “sex work industry,” a term she coined as the title for a panel discussion she attended at a feminist anti-pornography conference in 1978, according to an essay she wrote.

Carol defined sex work as a labor issue, not a crime, not a sin,” Marquez said. “It is a job done by a million people in this country who are stigmatized and criminalized by working to support their families.

The realities of Onlyfans for sex workers.  Explained by Adult filmmaker Vex Ashley.

ex started dabbling in sex work when she was in art school, and now runs Four Chambers - an ethical, female-centric porn platform that champions the creativity and diversity of sex.

Diana R. Johnson Chair, Home Affairs Committee, Chair, Home Affairs Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to stop commercial websites partly or wholly dedicated to advertising prostitution from facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation and other sexual offences.

Chris Philp The Minister of State, Home Department

Tackling modern slavery, including online sexual exploitation remains a top priority for this Government, and we are committed to stamping out this abhorrent crime. Since its introduction, the Modern Slavery Act 2015, has given law enforcement agencies the tools to tackle modern slavery, with maximum life sentences for perpetrators and enhanced protection for victims, including children.

We know that traffickers may use adult services websites (ASW) to advertise victims of modern slavery for sexual exploitation and that is why we are working closely with law enforcement partners and online companies to ensure they live up to their responsibilities of preventing their services from being used for criminal activity. Through Project AIDANT, the series of National Crime Agency-led operational intensifications, operational activity to target exploitation associated with ASWs has increased.

Furthermore, under the Online Safety Bill, all in scope companies will need to take action to prevent the use of their services for criminal activity. Illegal content will need to be removed expeditiously and the risk of it appearing and spreading across their services will need to be minimised by effective systems. For priority categories set out in legislation, companies will need to take particularly robust action. This includes sexual exploitation offences contained in the Sexual Offences Act (2003). For these offences, companies will need to consider the necessary systems and processes to identify, assess and address these offences based on a risk assessment. This might mean more resource for content moderation or limiting algorithmic promotion of content.

The Home Office is also providing £1.36m over the next 3 years to ‘Changing Lives’ for their Net-Reach project, which will tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) online, providing early intervention and targeted support for women and girls at high-risk of commercial online exploitation and the risk on online sexual harm.

Reasons never to go into prostitution, the horrors of it and UKpunting Rant.

I have seen many posts talking about working as a escort or sex worker and some of them being in a positive light and some women doing this while married or having a partner.

Well i wanted to write this not just as a rant for myself and to get it off my chest but to let other's know who might consider doing it that there is not that many positives to it. Quite a long detailed post but a necessary one.

I first started doing it 12 years ago and since i have come back the last 2 years i dont want to go into details of exact reasons of why i did it but i had my reasons. I want to give a honest account and hope not to be judged. People in my private life would never guess i do this i am not a typical stereotype nor do i have any addictions or have a husband or partner leeching off me. It was my decision and not taken lightly but there was reasons why i needed money this way.

Have you thought about moving abroad, but your partner doesn't agree? Or maybe you are about to make a big move for work reasons and want to know if your partner should accompany you. This blog post will give you the pros and cons of both situations.

Think long and hard before you say "yes."

Before you say yes to following your partner abroad, think carefully about what it will mean for both of you. Here are some things to consider:

What do they want? If you really love the idea and have dreamed of living in another country, that's great! But if it's just an idea that's crossed their minds, think about why they're looking forward to moving. Is it because they want new experiences or friends? Do they want to get away from problems at home? Or does living abroad help them feel more independent and mature in a way that doesn't work so well at home when people start to question their decision (which is often inevitable).

What do I want? While it's important to keep an open mind when considering this question, don't feel like everything has to be up for discussion. Think about what matters most to each person individually and don't overlook other factors such as finances and family commitments.

If you don't know each other well enough, you could end up in a bad situation. Make sure you know each other well enough before you move in together.

If you have already decided to live abroad with your partner, there are a few things you should do

If you are thinking of moving abroad with your partner, it is very important that you have a good relationship with your partner who will give you massages or sexual services as he will probably have the desire at some point if he goes so long without having contact with a girl.

Another thing you should keep in mind before moving abroad is to know well the culture and language of the country where you are going to live with your partner. If you don't know their culture and language, then it will be very difficult for both of you to communicate and make friends there. 

Therefore, before you decide whether or not to follow someone when you move abroad, make sure that you are going to a place where you will be able to settle down easily without having problems communicating or adapting to local life.

Take time to focus on yourself

It's easy to get lost and forget who you are when there is someone else around all the time. Take time to focus on yourself and the most important things in your life.

Consider what you want from a relationship, both short term and long term. What do you need? What makes you happy? Don't be afraid to speak up if something isn't working for either of you.

Make sure all your goals are still being met while he/she is away - this could mean taking some extra classes, spending more time with friends or family, etc. Whatever it takes so that both partners can thrive without feeling like they're missing out on something important in their lives.

Find ways to stay connected without having to leave the house at night (Skype dates!, texting). This will help keep those feelings alive despite being miles apart physically during these first few months together as newlyweds again :)

Talk about what moving abroad means for your relationship

You should talk about your expectations - how long do you think you will be living abroad? What plans do you have for your careers and how might it affect your relationship? How can you stay connected to your family and friends, your community and the country where you grew up?

These are all questions you will want to discuss together before making the decision. It is important that you both agree on what is going to happen in your relationship and how things will develop. But once you have, moving abroad is a great way to strengthen your relationship.

Get some experience before you make the big move

If you've never lived in a foreign country before, it's a good idea to get some experience first. There are several ways to get this experience:

Try volunteering in another country as part of an organization, such as the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps.

Study abroad for several semesters.

Spend some time working and studying abroad for an extended period of time (more than six months).

Make sure you know each other well enough before you move in together.....

Most couples who move in together do so after they've known each other for a while. But it's not uncommon to find yourself moving in with your partner before you've had a proper conversation about the future.

Moving in together is an important step and should be thought through carefully. You need to make sure you both agree on what it means for the relationship, because if things don't work out and you have to break up, it will be much harder than breaking up and staying friends (or just breaking up altogether).

If you don't take the time to get to know each other before you move in together - either by living together or getting engaged - you could end up making big decisions with someone who doesn't share your values or sense of responsibility

Moving abroad is exciting, but it can be challenging if you don't think through some of these issues first

If you are thinking about moving abroad, it is important to take a step back and consider how your move will affect the rest of your life. Your partner may be excited about the prospect of a new adventure, but it's also worth considering what would happen if things don't work out and he or she cheats on you with escorts found on simple escorts uk or other escort platforms nearby.

Don't let an unhealthy relationship stagnant over a change of venue. If your partner wants to go, ask him or her to think about some potential problems first:

• What if our relationship doesn't last?

• How will this affect my career?

• Can I move without selling my house?

Conclusion

Moving abroad can be an exciting and rewarding experience. However, if you don't think through some of these questions first, it could become a stressful and even painful experience. If you are thinking about following your partner if he or she moves abroad, be sure to do your research first and take time to think about how it will affect your relationship. 

If you are still unsure about moving abroad with your partner and would like more information about what living in another country with someone other than yourself might be like, contact us today. We'd love to give you some advice on this topic or even help you plan how things might be before you make any decisions.

Bristol council voted down the proposal to ban the strip clubs in Bristol. (SEV)  Bristol presently has a cap of three strip clubs, though there are only two.  A consortium of 'radicle feminists' have been campaigning to impose a total ban on strip clubs as recently happened in Edinburgh. There have been two public consultations, 2019 and 2021, that received 17,000 submissions.  The anti-strip club campaigners argue that these clubs are a gateway to prostitution and fester sexist attitudes that can lead to tragic results

Stripers argue it is just a job, and for many is pays so much more than other jobs, enabling them to lead a comfortable life and bring up their family.

Ultimately, the council’s licencing committee voted nine to one to maintain the current cap of three licenced SEVs.

Various councillors remarked that it was better for dancers to have well-regulated licenced venues rather than forcing strip clubs underground.

Several also noted that there is little empirical evidence linking sex entertainment venues to violence against women and girls.

Green party councillor Guy Poultney received a round of applause when he accused women’s rights groups of arguing “we should discount the voices of some women in order to empower them and to restrict their choices in the name of equality and take away their jobs for their own good”.

Strippers commented.

We hope going forward Bristol Council take this into consideration, and collaborate with the workers to create an SEVs licensing policy that supports their rights, instead of hindering them. Up the f****** workers.

About time too. The 'Grand Theft Auto' is a theophoric and misogynistic game.

Hit video game franchise “Grand Theft Auto” has officially announced its debut playable female protagonist, marking the first woman included in the game to not be beaten, solicited for sex, or robbed.

This is a harrowing article about sex worker mothers who have had their children removed from them, because they are sex workers. It forces these mothers to accept abuse from their partners rather than going to the police for support. It highlights the failings of social services and the Family Courts. There are distressing facts in the article.

"Over the past four years, between 1,210 and 1,840 children in the UK have been adopted each year without the consent of their parents. "

We have seen this with sex-working mums, who despite their massive efforts to escape violence, are judged, with social workers implying the woman was putting her child at risk

She asked for support but received none – she felt that social services had written her off because she was a sex worker

An article in Psychology Today about the different regimes in which sex work is viewed in different countries. The article discusses the different regimes enacted in various countries and regions. It is a fair article and does not decide on one regime or the other. 

• Policies that criminalize sex work exist on a broad spectrum: from prohibition to abolition and neo-abolition.
• Views about sex work have shifted in many countries, resulting increasingly in public support for the decriminalization of prostitution.
• Decriminalization and criminalization policies and implications typically vary from country to country.

Looks like those in the United Kingdom armed forces are to be denied access to by the services of escorts while they are abroad.

UK military personnel will be kicked out of the Armed Forces for paying for sex in other countries as part of a crackdown on unacceptable behaviour in the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced.

The escort Summer Dahlia is fearful that the online safety bill will force her to work on the street or brothels.  The fear is the legislation will stop her advertising online with sites such as Adult work.  The potential amendments to the law would make google and other search engines remove adult work from the search indexes.

Dahlia says these sites allow her to vet clients. In America a similar bill closed down many sites, forcing escorts onto the street to find new clients.

Under the current law, the Government said websites are only required to take down content when it is reported by users.

The Online Safety Bill would force sites to be proactive and prevent people from being 'exposed' to the content in the first place.

Sophie Hyde is an award-winning filmmaker of both narrative and documentary films. She is a founding member of film collective Closer Productions. She lives and works on the lands of the Kaurna people in South Australia and makes provocative and intimate films and television.