Elitism and Empowerment

This evening Douglas Fox has written another excellent piece for Harlot's Parlour :

http://www.harlots-parlour.com/2009/10/its-all-about-class-dear.html

He addresses a very important issue that has always been on the back burner in the sex industry and that is snobbery and elitism. There is no doubt that it does exist, of that there is no question. The real question though, is how it will affect us. If those who shout the loudest amongst the anti- sex industry groups can drive a wedge amongst us at all, snobbery is an easy target. To quote Douglas himself -

"Sex workers are perhaps one of the most socially diverse groups of workers that you will ever meet which makes us unique. Historically we have a heritage that includes high class courtesans who led fashionable society from glamorous salons that attracted the leading minds of society to penny whores who stalked the London stews.
Many of the most aristocratic families owe their positions and wealth to the bed room skills of some distant relative who caught the attention of a king or Queen and like wise many a poor family survived because one entrepreneurial member chose to use their body to live. Today the international nature of the labour market is recognised in the sex industry although often it is conveniently confused with trafficking by moralists and anti sex work campaigners. The truth is that sex sells and always will what ever the moral or political climate.

The one thing we all have in common is that sex, whither on a street corner or between Yves Delorme sheets, does not change. A fuck is a fuck and a blow job is a blow job. That is the common denominator that links us all in this work and we should not forget that regardless of where we work or the nuances of the culture in which we work or the hierarchical structures in which we operate our job is universally similar in its basics. Accusations of elitism and snobbery directed at us by predominantly middle class moralists who objectify all whores as victims are the worst snobs because they endanger the lives and liberty of every sex worker and that again unites us all against the common enemy, prejudice and ignorance about our work."

I absolutely agree with Douglas. In the passing of any legislation or reformatory measures, due consideration must be given to all aspects of our industry and the hierarchy within. It is simply not acceptable to utilise our differences in an attempt to treat all sex workers as victims. To acknowledge the many different levels within the sex industry is to go half way towards reaching a workable solution for everyone. As sex workers, we need to embrace our differences as well as broad similarities.

One of the most maddening things about being a woman who chooses to work in the sex industry is the refusal on the part of the likes of Julie Bindel to see what is abundantly plain. No matter what level of the industry you choose to examine, there will be women who have chosen that path and have enjoyed the journey they've gone on, together with the freedoms associated with a higher than normal income. Prostitution is the only profession where women's earnings are consistently higher than that of our male counterparts. That in itself is very empowering and allows me as a sex worker the opportunity to make choices I would otherwise not have had available to me.

Hmmmm. Speaking of empowerment and choices, I haven't heard from my slave bitch for a while and I hope he's ok. Strolling towards him in my leather basque with my strap on at the ready is empowerment personified. ;)

Nite, LL xx