{"id":5636,"date":"2025-06-02T11:48:33","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T10:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/?p=5636"},"modified":"2025-06-02T12:06:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T11:06:04","slug":"what-sex-workers-really-want","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/what-sex-workers-really-want\/","title":{"rendered":"What sex workers really want: 6 things you can do that actually make a difference"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Every year on June 2nd, International Sex Workers\u2019 Day rolls around. You\u2019ll see Instagram stories in red, a few think pieces, maybe even some politicians awkwardly tweeting \u201crights not rescue\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>But let\u2019s be honest \u2014 most of that doesn\u2019t actually change anything.<\/p>\n<p>Sex workers don\u2019t need more empty gestures. They need real support, from real people, in everyday situations. Whether you\u2019re a client, an ally, or just someone who believes in human dignity, here are 6 things you can actually do to make a difference \u2014 today, and every day.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Pay Full Price. Always.<\/h2>\n<p>This should be obvious \u2014 but for some reason, it still needs saying.<\/p>\n<p>Sex work is work. That means it deserves the same financial respect you\u2019d give any other service. No haggling. No \u201cmates rates.\u201d No \u201cbut it\u2019s just for half an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Would you walk into a restaurant and try to knock \u00a350 off your bill because you smiled at the server? No? Then don\u2019t do it to a sex worker.<\/p>\n<p>If you can\u2019t afford their rate, don\u2019t book. Full stop.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Stop Pretending You Don\u2019t Know Anyone in the Industry<\/h2>\n<p>Sex workers are everywhere \u2014 and you probably already know one.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re your Uber driver, your barista, your uni mate, your mutual on TikTok. Not everyone is loud and visible about it, and for good reason \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/sex-work-myths-debunked\/\">stigma is still real<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So when people make degrading jokes, spread stereotypes, or get nosy about \u201cwhat kind of person would do that\u201d\u2026 remember: someone in the room is probably quietly listening. And now they know they can\u2019t trust you.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to support sex workers, start with your own mouth. And maybe your group chat.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Don\u2019t Just Repost \u2014 Actually Speak Up<\/h2>\n<p>Reposting a graphic is nice. But what really helps? <strong><em>Using your own voice<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Say something when a friend jokes about \u201chookers\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Challenge the idea that sex workers are \u201cless than\u201d or \u201cdesperate\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Speak up when laws threaten their safety<\/li>\n<li>Share their content, art, writing \u2014 not just advocacy pieces<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Performative allyship is out. Intentional, vocal solidarity is in.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Protect Their Privacy Like You\u2019d Protect Your Own<\/h2>\n<p><em>This one\u2019s especially for clients<\/em>: You don\u2019t get to out someone just because you know what they do.<\/p>\n<p>Sex workers often operate under stage names, with strict control over where and how their image is shared. Respect that.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Don\u2019t<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Screenshot their messages or photos<\/li>\n<li>Share their content without permission<\/li>\n<li>Ask about their \u201creal name\u201d or day job<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You wouldn\u2019t want your private life broadcasted. Neither do they.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Support Decriminalisation \u2014 Not Just Legalisation<\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>Quick refresher<\/strong><\/em>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Legalisation often creates more hoops and restrictions, leaving many behind.<\/li>\n<li>Decriminalisation removes criminal penalties for consensual adult sex work and helps everyone work more safely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you want to support sex workers\u2019 rights, listen to what they\u2019re actually asking for. <em><strong>That means<\/strong><\/em>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Signing petitions for decrim<\/li>\n<li>Following and amplifying organisations like SWARM, ECP, and Red Umbrella<\/li>\n<li>Not supporting laws that criminalise clients or third parties under the guise of \u201cprotection\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ask sex workers what they need \u2014 not politicians who\u2019ve never spoken to one.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Normalise the Work Without Romanticising It<\/h2>\n<p>Yes, sex work can be empowering. Yes, it\u2019s valid. But let\u2019s not sugar-coat it.<\/p>\n<p>Not every escort is rolling in cash or booking luxury trips with regulars. Like any job, it has hard days, rude clients, and burnout.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>So instead of glamorising or pitying sex workers, just treat it like any other profession<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask thoughtful questions<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t assume you know their experience<\/li>\n<li>Respect it without fetishising it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Validation doesn\u2019t require exaggeration.<\/p>\n<h2>The Takeaway<\/h2>\n<p>This International Sex Workers\u2019 Day, don\u2019t stop at a social media post. Show up. Speak up. Pay up. Respect boundaries. Protect privacy. Fight for rights.<\/p>\n<p>Sex workers aren\u2019t asking for special treatment \u2014 they\u2019re asking for dignity, safety, and the same respect every other worker deserves.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For more advice on supporting the sex work community, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/for-sex-workers\/sex-work-101\/\">visit the Vivastreet blog<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every year on June 2nd, International Sex Workers\u2019 Day rolls around. You\u2019ll see Instagram stories in red, a few think pieces, maybe even some politicians awkwardly tweeting \u201crights not rescue\u201d. But let\u2019s be honest \u2014 most of that doesn\u2019t actually change anything. Sex workers don\u2019t need more empty gestures. They need real support, from real [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5640,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"CBBTypography":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[221],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-5636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sex-work-101"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5636"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5636\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5636"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=5636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}