Melissa Gira

I can understand Ray’s sentiment, especially since I’ve been compared to 50 Cent by a non-sex-worker. I do believe the statement that’s been repeated here and elsewhere that until you take part in sex work, you can’t begin to ‘know’ sex work, and yet people often believe they do. But then, I’d take it further to say that even then, the term ’sex work’ is too broad, because the power differential varies wildly, depending on whether one is independent or with an agency, a fetish model or a fetish worker, a callgirl or a courtesan, and I know this because I’ve done all these things, and one form of sex work didn’t necessarily prepare me for the next. And I agree with Breslin’s position that we should feel free to publish our stories anywhere we like, not just in spaces run by sex workers or our own personal blogs. In fact, I can see a strong reason to publish outside of those spaces: reaching a mainstream audience might do well to soften those pre-existing stereotypes. Right now, the world seems to be basing its knowledge on television.