“Many people, especially women, are forced into prostitution, and sex workers face great financial difficulties,” he said.
Amidst the livelihood crisis in the UK, 28-year-old porn star Dana decided to return to what she calls “traditional work”.
Dana, who requested to use a pseudonym to protect her identity, said, “I studied marketing, so I decided to temporarily work a 9-5 job. I think I’d go back to porn when the time is right if I wanted to.”
A new fund was launched for the sex industry during the crisis at the end of 2021. “I used to tweet about porn shows I did to promote OnlyFans and Camgirl with friends and other porn stars, but I only did it for about two months.” Building a career in the sex industry can be very challenging. This leads to burnout, according to Mashable.
“I’ve had a few different jobs, and prostitution seemed like a good opportunity to focus on what I love and make a lot of money.” Dana thinks she can’t control it, but sex work can.
“When I was working for myself, and the money was unsecured, I couldn’t ask people to save. I didn’t know how much I would get each month, and I couldn’t ask anyone for help.”
Dana interviewed with a marketing agency and felt better knowing that at least she had a chance to secure her finances. However, the interview led to an unexpected confrontation. “When I got there, my interviewer said they did a background check and printed sexually explicit pictures of me. They were on the table. I was trapped in a room with two people, and there was a picture of me naked in the middle.”
“He told Dana that his company couldn’t afford to hire porn stars. “I don’t know why they let me in, maybe they refused. Honestly, I’m laughing. I can’t really be offended because it’s pathetic. But it’s scary to think that so many bosses can do this. Maybe now all I can do is prostitution, and I won’t go back.”
Rachel, who requested a name change to protect her status as a package prostitute (in exchange for sex), had a similar experience.
“I became a prostitute because it was the only job that fit my life. I have a disabled child, and it was very difficult for me to go to the hospital and get treatment,” she said.
Like Dana, Rachel tried to find work outside of prostitution but was unsuccessful when her employer discovered her profession. “I was denied employment for being convicted of prostitution. Once you have that record, it sticks. Now it’s all about keeping women off the streets and reducing their chances of becoming a prostitute.”
The UK is currently facing its worst livelihood crisis in 60 years, and it’s only getting worse, with many people struggling for food, rent, or energy. For sex workers (primarily women of color, transgender, or at-risk immigrant women) considered criminals, unemployed, and at risk of violence, exploitation, and loss of economic security, the price of the livelihood crisis is huge.
Prostitution organizations such as Prostitutes England United, the Sex Worker Resistance and Advocacy Movement (SWARM), and the Sex Workers Federation have launched the Prostitution Challenge campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the concrete impact that the cost-of-living crisis has had and will have on the living and working conditions of sex workers. After this crisis, they demand that the government and the public take concrete action to end the unrest and poverty of sex workers.
Amelie, a spokeswoman for Anti-Trouble, who requested anonymity, told Mashable that many prostitutes like Dana are self-employed, which means many of them are marginalized during tough economic times.
“More and more people