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International Women’s Day: Three sex workers tell us the dangers they face and why the law needs to change
By Almara Abgarian, Freelance journalist, editor and media consultan
Sunday 8 Mar 2020 10:00 am
Today marks International Women’s Day, an annual celebration of women’s rights, and the social, economic, cultural and political achievements that women are making in the world. In the UK, it is also a day when sex workers across the country close their bedroom doors in protest against the lack of laws and regulations that surround sex work. In England, Wales and Scotland, prostitution is partially legal; money can change hands for sexual services, but aspects of sex work such as working together with someone else (and by doing so, protecting yourself from danger) or soliciting in public places, as well as owning and managing a brothel are all crimes that women can be convicted for. TOP ARTICLES 1/5 Kratu the rescue dog who is terrible at agility is back at Crufts 2020 – and this time he’s running off with a pole ADVERTISEMENT This is why sex workers, along with supporters, are calling for reform of the law. A recent study by the human rights charity RightsInfo revealed that 49% of Brits would be happy to decriminalise brother-keeping, which can currently see someone go to prison for seven years. Making sex work fully legalised would not only provide sex workers with more rights, but many claim that it would improve safety issues. To find out more about the concerns that face this line of work, we asked three sex workers to share their personal stories – what it’s like to have sex for money, the negative experiences that they’ve had and the violence they’ve faced, but above all: why they want the law to change. Charlotte Rose, 39, works in London Charlotte has been in the industry for over two decades and is fighting for sex workers’ rights (Picture: Charlotte Rose) Charlotte Rose has been a sex worker for two decades, and is a well-known name in the industry. The 39-year-old has been a vocal campaigner for sex workers’ rights for years, and today she will be joining the English Collective of Prostitutes in Soho Square at 5pm, for their protest march. ‘Today, we’re coming together to show strength, unity, and solidarity for our community,’ she tells us. ‘Before I moved to London, most of my sex work was predominantly in Devon. It’s much harder to sell sex in the capital, mainly because we’re not allowed to do so on the street and property prices are sky-high – and because my daughter lives with me, I use rented accommodation for sex work, such as hotels. ‘Working from hotels is one of the big fears for all sex workers, because it’s a double-edged sword; we do have the safety against rape, but we’ve also got the penalisation and fear of arrest. And frankly, I’d rather be arrested than violently raped. ‘I remember a few years ago, a working friend and I booked a session with two guys. We played with them both, but one of the men had trouble finishing within the hour they had with us. ‘They were quite burly and broad men, so my colleague and I were left with two options: do we carry on with possible violence, or do we just give them the money and let them go? ‘I was polite at first, but after another 15 minutes we told them that we had to leave for another booking. That’s when they got angry; he started grabbing our things, including the money, the pair of them threw stuff off the shelves in the hotel room and one of them tried to pull the TV off the wall. ‘They were quite burly and broad men, so my colleague and I were left with two options: do we carry on with possible violence, or do we just give them the money and let them go? ‘In the end, we did – because I was afraid that they would tell the hotel manager about our activities, and because of how the law currently operates, I would be the one arrested.’ This isn’t the first time – nor is it likely to be the last – that Charlotte has had to choose between her safety and giving in to an angry customer’s complaints. ‘As long as it’s done professionally and safety, people’s perception of sex work can be what they want it to be’ (Picture: Charlotte Rose) Because she wants to make the service accessible to those with disabilities, who might be on lower incomes, Charlotte charges £170 per hour and hasn’t changed this fee in years. She says: ‘I do a lot of work with disabled men. For people with disabilities, I am their sensory therapist, providing them with skin-on-skin body movements and a naked body against their body, which is a beautiful thing. ‘However, once again, because there aren’t any laws looking after sex workers, this also comes with its own concerns. ‘I once had had a disabled guy who couldn’t finish, so I extended the time for him. ‘He’d lost the use of his arm and shoulder, and wanted us to have a bath together, so I drew one for him – but he was angry that I didn’t have a cast iron bath (which was what my photos showed) and said that this was a breach of consumer rights. ‘He wanted his money back and said that if I didn’t comply, he was going to cause me problems as he believed he had the law on his side because he was disabled. ‘After our session, I did some digging and found out that he’s a serial complainer.’ To help protect themselves against creepy and aggressive clients or serial complainers, sex workers do their research when approached by a new client. For many, including all of the women interviewed here, this includes apps and websites like Smooci, Clients Eye and Ugly Mugs, where they can track their own whereabouts, leave reviews and share details about bad experiences, as well as warn fellow sex workers. Charlotte also has her own security measures in place. She says: ‘Before I let new bookings into the property, I will always call them. ‘You can’t hear their voice in a text; in a call, you can hear where they are (in the street or in their car), the sincerity in their voice and if anyone’s with them. ‘Once they’re parked, I’ll also ask them to confirm their car model and the last letters of the registration plate, so that I have these but also so I can check through my window to see if they are who they say they are. ‘Once that’s done, I’ll wave them up.’ One guy I used to see took me trawling through the moors to find mud so that we could wrestle in, and even got me a wet suit Like most sex workers with an online profile, Charlotte will tell them her ‘do’s and don’ts’ beforehand. For instance, she won’t do anal play, hates having her ears kissed (because she frequently loses earrings) and doesn’t want her hair pulled. ‘It’s everything – it’s fantasy, it’s fetish, it’s talking, it’s cuddle therapy, it’s company,’ Charlotte explains. ‘As long as it’s done professionally and safely, people’s perception of sex work can be what they want it to be. I, for instance, love food sploshing – baked beans in particular feel really nice on the skin. ‘One guy I used to see took me trawling through the moors to find mud so that we could wrestle in, and even got me a wet suit. ‘To me, the “girlfriend experience” is glamourised so much in the media, that sex work is seen as either dirty hooking of it’s a pornstar experience. But it doesn’t really matter what people want, because it’s a professional service. ‘I want people to understand that, at the end of the day, sex work is just work.’ Jenni, 42, works in Liverpool Jenni was previously a glamour model and cam model, but now works as an escort three days per week (Picture: Jenni) Jenni has been an escort for just over a year, having previously worked as a glamour model and cam model. She is a high-class escort and works around three days per week. Like Charlotte, she will talk to her clients over the phone before agreeing to meet them. She says: ‘To make sure there’s no misconception before they arrive, we’ll discuss everything and I’ll only book someone if they call me, so we can have a bit of a chat first. ‘I entertain both men and couples, but so far, it’s mainly been men who approach me. ‘Once we start talking, I’ll find out where they come from and their age – I only book clients over a certain age anyway – as well as check out their email address and phone number. ‘But I don’t actually need to screen too much, because if they’re from my area, you get a good sense of the kind of person they are. ‘If a guy is coming into town to see me I normally do a more in-depth screening process and if the booking is in advance I will require a deposit, which is always 50% of whatever length of time they spend with me. ‘My services cater for many individuals and I offer various services depending on requirements. ‘I also offer “elite services” for the discerning gentlemen who requires me to spend more time with them or for me to travel to them, usually they fly me to them. ‘In Liverpool, I have a private apartment for in-calls with an intercom system and there’s also CCTV in the area, but obviously not inside the apartment.’ Thankfully, Jenni hasn’t had a bad experience that turned violent, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t faced other issues. ‘You get a lot of time-wasters and fantasites who mess girls about,’ she says. ‘I have had guys who requested bookings and requirements have been discussed along with screening, then they don’t show up. ‘I’ve only ever felt scared when I first started; the first time I met a companion, I was petrified – it was a surreal feeling, I can’t even really explain it. ‘But more often than not, the guys are more nervous than I am. When they first arrive, I’ll offer them a drink and a shower, and they can also shower before they leave. It’s about getting to know them and making them feel relaxed. ‘All requests are different, but many of them want the girlfriend experience; kissing and cuddling, that kind of sex.’ ‘The government needs to recognise how sex work in other countries, like Germany for instance, is far more legalised than it is here Jenni wants a law reform because she believes it would build a better community for sex workers and give them the same rights as other professionals in the UK. She says: ‘When I first started, I had lots of questions and I got a lot of support from girls online who are really good friends of mine now, and who gave me lots of safety tips. ‘But I want the law to recognise sex work as an industry and a profession; we pay our taxes, we pay our national insurance and then they don’t give any kind of support when something actually happens. ‘The government needs to recognise how sex work in other countries, like Germany for instance, is far more legalised than it is here. ‘A law reform would allow us to form a better community where we can share advice and details like we do on existing platforms, because you have to do the research – it’s not like I woke up and just became an escort overnight. ‘I don’t really want to glamourise my job, it’s not just sugar daddies and everything else that people imagine. ‘A while back, there was a man who called me up and told me he was in the city for work, but had a horrible hotel and he was just having a bad time all around. So he got in a taxi, came to my apartment and we sat and watched TV for two hours.’ There are sometimes very generous men who spoil the women, too. ‘A gentleman I’m meeting soon has bought me a pair of Jimmy Choos,’ she says. ‘Gifts are not expected, but gratefully received. ‘It took a couple of months, but I feel a lot more secure and relaxed in my profession now. I work three days per week, and have around four clients per day, I know other girls may meet more but it’s just my preference. ‘I chose this line of work to give myself more time and I can choose my own hours and days I work.’ Jessica*, works in London Jessica, not her real name, is an escort in London (Picture: Jessica) Jessica* considers herself a ‘luxury traveller’ sex worker, but is now permanently based in the UK, where she works as an escort. ‘Overall, I find my job to be very fun and exciting,’ Jessica tells us. ‘My experience with clients is always one of heartfelt honesty and consideration, and the financial aspect is an added bonus. There are gangs and drug abusers in London who will be quick to take advantage ‘Just like anyone in the adult industry, I don’t like the time-wasters. The intolerance of companions is also very disappointing, but you’ve got to expect it in this line of work. ‘I haven’t personally experienced any situations that put me in danger, but I know of others working in this industry who have. ‘There are gangs and drug abusers in London who will be quick to take advantage. ‘I hear a lot about gang leaders in London wanting to rob, and encourage others to rob, vulnerable girls working in the adult industry for their own financial gain. ‘ Sex work is a business, and a successful prostitute with a high turnover faces danger from people who may want to steal their hard-earned cash or scam workers by using their services and then getting their money back through shady means. ‘Someone I knew had their Rolex stolen, as well as designer handbags and jewellery,’ Jessica says. ‘When you present yourself online as a gorgeous model, this often attracts some questionable characters. I know of some girls that have been monitored or tracked to see how busy she is and how much money she’s making. ‘Staying sober is my number one rule, and I expect the same from any client as I put my safety before anything else’ (Picture: Jessica) ‘If a vulnerable girl was to make friends with someone like this, she can become reliant on him and he could steal from her or even become her pimp. This is a negative experience that I know many girls in the industry have faced. ‘Someone I knew was using the escort booking service Adult Work, and accepted Adult Work credits as a form of payment. She used the client’s card, with consent, to top up her credits as the client didn’t have his own account to gift them to her. ‘This led to her account being given a lifetime ban as it was seen as a fraudulent card payment, and the client reportedly told his bank that his card was being used fraudulently and he got all his money back. ‘It’s important to be aware of this kind of thing as one wrong move can ruin your livelihood. I wish there was more of an open community where girls could speak together and discuss their experiences, but unfortunately, the stigma attached to the industry can make it hard for people to be open about their profession.’ As for her do’s and don’ts, Jessica has one golden rule. ‘I’m not a party girl and don’t do any drugs,’ she adds.
https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/08/internat ... -12363311/
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Sex strikes, sweary T-shirts and vegan cakes with VERY intimate decorations: How International Women's Day has changed in 111 years
By Holly Bancroft For The Mail On Sunday
00:58 GMT 08 Mar 2020 , updated 10:11 GMT 08 Mar 2020
Marchers will take to the streets of London for International Women's Day today
Men and women encouraged to wear red during walk to Parliament Square
Broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and campaigner Bianca Jagger will be speakers
Vulva-shape cupcakes and 'f*** the patriarchy' T-shirts will be available
In 1909, a street protest by thousands of striking US textile workers inspired International Women’s Day. Today, the struggle for equality will be marked in the UK by vulva-shaped cupcakes and celebrity campaigners.
And while current organisers may have become more creative in celebrating women and the fight for gender equality, the origins of the movement will be echoed by a traditional mass protest in Central London today.
Men and women will be encouraged to wear red as they march to Parliament Square to highlight how ‘women’s work keeps everyday life going’. Broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and campaigner Bianca Jagger will be speakers.
Exotic dancers perform in Piccadilly Circus in central London during a demonstration against discrimination of sex workers held on International Women's Day
Similar events are expected to draw thousands in Bristol, Cambridge and Edinburgh, with smaller celebrations across the country.
Some of the more light-hearted side draws in London include ‘vulvalicious cupcake decorating’, a tongue-in-cheek cookery class that teaches women how to decorate vegan cupcakes to look like a vulva.
Marchers can even buy ‘F*** the Patriarchy’ T-shirts for £18.
A T-shirt with a vulgar slogan which marchers can buy for £18
A guide to the £20 event in East London’s trendy Brick Lane says: ‘We can’t think of a better way of celebrating International Women’s Day than decorating vegan cupcakes to look just like splendid vulvae!’
In Glasgow, visitors are encouraged to pay £19 to immerse themselves in Linder Sterling’s avant-garde feminist exhibition Bower Of Bliss, commissioned by the city’s Women’s Library.
In London, a host of events and parties will be led by the March4Women event, hosted by Women’s Equality party founder Toksvig. Singer Emeli Sandé, 1917 film actor George MacKay and Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of Suffragettes founder Emmeline Pankhurst, will appear at the rally.
Elsewhere, campaigners are staging a sex work strike across Europe, accompanied by a demonstration in London’s Soho Square, calling for prostitution to be decriminalised.
Demonstration on International Women's Day, 1911
A march in Edinburgh will also include calls for a ‘consumption strike’ aimed at encouraging people to cut their spending to what is ‘strictly necessary for their survival and activism’. It will be accompanied by a boycott of companies that use sexist publicity.
Research by Nottingham University Business School shows that only 51 per cent of women feel comfortable negotiating higher pay, compared to 74 per cent of men.
Shockingly, the research also found that only 62 per cent of women workers feel they can state their value to their employer, in contrast with 82 per cent of men.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... years.html
