Escort Stigma

[Morpheus]

I was at a kids party yesterday where about 15 parents friends and family gathered in one room eating shit cake and weak coffee yuk I'd prefer playing with the kids more interesting and intelligent conversations.
Well the subject of escorts in our town came up well fuck me the abuce escorts got was nothing short of fucking raceism, escorts are scum, escorts are dirty, escorts don't care, etc etc etc well I wish some of them would look at there own lives and we would see hyprocritical dickheads who sit on the front row at mass types. I had to sit there and soak up all this shite for 20 min and I was asked for my opinion cos I was very quiet and I always have one well I said live and let live luckily one of the kids walked in and called me out.
Fuck me my blood was boiling sitting there listening to this shit and for the first time in my life I couldent speak up for what I believe in a very very strange feeling. Now I do do punt a lot maybe too much but that's my choice but I've made really good friends with some escorts ( in an escort punter way) and I know that escorts give up so much many have children living far away family issues some up to there eyes in financial shit and yea the money is good ( sometimes) but an escort always opens the door with a big smile gives us stuff you only dream about put up with weardos on the phone herasment people trying to rob them strange requests etc etc and when you see escorts out and about they looking very vulnerable. I know I sound like a lick arse but I'm glad I've discovered a new world it just makes my blood boil listening to people judging others who make me happy

Good thread Sperminator. The stigma associated with escorting is as old as time itself and largely related to ignorance (and probably insecurity and jealously on the part of other women).

I've found that the strongest critics of escorts are women rather than men (in my work/social circles). Thankfully in the circles I mix in, no one really seems to bother and it hardly comes up.

It has always struck me that escorting is one of the most honest professions. We are all whores - prostituting ourselves to our bosses, employers, customers on a daily basis to make ends meet or make a profit. Escorts are the only ones who are honest about what they do and why they do it.

[Sassy Ann]

I also think the stigma is historical, where sex was seen as a chore or resulting in children or 'dirty' and girls were either pimped or street prostitutes. The 'courtesans' also had people look down on them, but as they had the ears of men in power, they were handled with kid gloves.

Nowadays girls use the internet to attract and talk to clients, research information etc. It is much more around self employment and treating it as a professional service. I think it's going to become more and more common, with the number of divorces and single people around increasing. Many people don't want another relationship, just a great body and fun, caring person to be with once in a while.

[samlad]

A very interesting thread. Thank you Sperminator

I've noticed very different attutides towards sex workers between England and Ireland. Although my family is Irish, I am very lucky in the sense that they are very open-minded and share my views on sex workers, and how I think that it is a personal choice to see a sex worker and that sex workers should be entitled to work with the protection of the law without stigma. All my friends and family know that I work for E-I and (although I'm not a punter myself) none have them have found my line of work immoral or anything. In most cases, they have been intrigued about the sex industry and have asked very positive questions, and it's surprising how little they know about the industry.

I honestly think that it's two main things that are the fundamental issue; firstly a lack of understanding. When I tell people about the industry, they seem to be more understanding. The second thing is social expectations; many people are brought up to believe that the sex industry is evil and sinful.

I've made many escort friends via the message boards and everyone that I talk to are normal, happy people living their lives they have chosen, and they are happy.

[EnglishAlex]

It's so hard to sit back and listen to the complete and utter shit that some people talk. Having been involved in such conversations myself, with people who have no idea what I do, I know exactly how it feels. However, I did give my honest opinion. That people can't comment on a subject they have no knowledge of. Whatever is read, heard or seen should be taken as what it is: an opinion.

What we have to remember is that the general public who are in no way involved in the sex industry only have the facts that they're supplied with. Thus, Propaganda comes into play.
Definition of Propaganda:
"Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist."

How are people supposed to know that most of us ladies made an informed decision when we took up our chosen careers? Especially when they're given facts such as:

"Very few women choose to willingly engage in prostitution. Most who are involved have had very few real choices"

This is taken from Turn Off the Red Light site, who have a lot to answer for. It seems to me that they can give whatever 'facts' they like. Their research is very specific, targeting street workers and ladies who have been trafficked. I base this on the fact that neither I, nor the any of the escorts I know have ever been asked to take part in any kind of official survey.

What the public see/hear are biased opinions of narrow minded idiots. We only have to look at Ruhamas Values to see that they're Hypocritical.

The values which inform Ruhama's work include:

* affirming every woman's right to society's protection and respect
* commitment to learning and to continual service improvement

I am a woman so shouldn't my right to protection and respect be considered too? I guess not as I don't fall into the category of street walking drug user who doesn't want to be doing my job.

Apologies for the long rant/post. Maybe submitting this thread to a Newspaper who has the balls to print it would challenge the limited views people have. I doubt that this would ever happen but we can always hope.

Regards, Alex

[Morpheus]

Thanks Alex. Please do submit exactly what you've said to the newspapers. Granted none may be willing to print it but the public need to hear more of this from ladies who have chosen escorting as a career.

[click n pick]

It's so hard to sit back and listen to the complete and utter shit that some people talk. Having been involved in such conversations myself, with people who have no idea what I do, I know exactly how it feels. However, I did give my honest opinion. That people can't comment on a subject they have no knowledge of. Whatever is read, heard or seen should be taken as what it is: an opinion.

What we have to remember is that the general public who are in no way involved in the sex industry only have the facts that they're supplied with. Thus, Propaganda comes into play.
Definition of Propaganda:
"Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist."

How are people supposed to know that most of us ladies made an informed decision when we took up our chosen careers? Especially when they're given facts such as:

"Very few women choose to willingly engage in prostitution. Most who are involved have had very few real choices"

This is taken from Turn Off the Red Light site, who have a lot to answer for. It seems to me that they can give whatever 'facts' they like. Their research is very specific, targeting street workers and ladies who have been trafficked. I base this on the fact that neither I, nor the any of the escorts I know have ever been asked to take part in any kind of official survey.

What the public see/hear are biased opinions of narrow minded idiots. We only have to look at Ruhamas Values to see that they're Hypocritical.

The values which inform Ruhama's work include:

* affirming every woman's right to society's protection and respect
* commitment to learning and to continual service improvement

I am a woman so shouldn't my right to protection and respect be considered too? I guess not as I don't fall into the category of street walking drug user who doesn't want to be doing my job.

Apologies for the long rant/post. Maybe submitting this thread to a Newspaper who has the balls to print it would challenge the limited views people have. I doubt that this would ever happen but we can always hope.

Regards, Alex

not a rant... great post.

[sperminater]

Alex I'm thinking about sending it but in a more edited way your point of view is very true and everone else but you know the print industry is so full of shit they wouldnt like it but if I do I'll post here first what do think guys?

[EnglishAlex]

You're very welcome Morpheus. I haven't submitted anything to a Newspaper but I'm currently writing an Essay which may possibly be suitable. My reason for the composition was to ease myself back into Study Mode to further my education but it could have its uses elsewhere. It wouldn't be submitted to anybody without the contributors agreement of course and you'd be welcome to read over it and make any suggestions.

If anybody would like to contribute, please feel free to pm me here or email me. No names will be disclosed of course. Not even mine

Sorry for the thread takeover people, but it's vital we get our point across.

Thanks x

[samlad]

You're very welcome Morpheus. I haven't submitted anything to a Newspaper but I'm currently writing an Essay which may possibly be suitable. My reason for the composition was to ease myself back into Study Mode to further my education but it could have its uses elsewhere. It wouldn't be submitted to anybody without the contributors agreement of course and you'd be welcome to read over it and make any suggestions.

If anybody would like to contribute, please feel free to pm me here or email me. No names will be disclosed of course. Not even mine

Sorry for the thread takeover people, but it's vital we get our point across.

Thanks x

Thank you for your feedback Alex Please feel free to share your opinions and don't feel that it's a thread takeover

[EnglishAlex]

Alex I'm thinking about sending it but in a more edited way your point of view is very true and everone else but you know the print industry is so full of shit they wouldnt like it but if I do I'll post here first what do think guys?

If you'd like to make it a joint effort, I'd be happy to work with you. You could do the same as I'm doing but collect information from a Clients point of view.

My fear if this was submitted by you would be that people would assume there's an element of control which as an Independent Escort I wish to avoid at all costs. I hope you understand this x