Why does a woman who has sex for money on a street corner get called a prostitute yet a woman who has sex for?

Question

money in front of a camera sometimes get called a porn star.

Surely a hairdresser who cuts hair in a salon or who cuts hair when a camera is rolling is a hairdresser regardless?

Why the double standard here as if the one who has sex for money on camera is somehow better?

Should rephrase that as I feel sorry for both sets of women.. the first because there are often underlying drug/abuse/emotional issues and the second because they often seem charicatures/damaged by socialisation that women are sex objects.

Just curious how the distinction can be made - also how he or she for that matter can be called a porn actor - an actor pretends to do something - does not actually do it!

Know my views will be controversial and not with the majority given that being anti-exploitation/anti-porn-violence is not the 'in' thing..

Answer 1

well in many people's eyes neither are the ideal way of making a living. i suppose firstly porn stars are called stars because more people will see them who buy the videos and therefore they get some type of fame. also the porn industry seems to want to describe it self as professional as they say they don't like drugs and they are all checked the whole time for stds. and finally i suppose a porn star has to be more 'beautiful' or have a better body than a street corner prostitute because they have to be people's fantasy's: I mean not many people would fantasise about a prostitute.
Personally, i'm abivalent about whether prostitution should be legalised - on the one hand its happened for centuries and anything to make these vulnerable women safer, but on the other hand i would hate to condone this degredation.
Porn however is legal already (I think) so that's another difference in why they see themselves as higher status.

Answer 2

The use of the term 'star' really does 'bug the hell out of me.'

Actors and Actress's used to be just that until they had (through some criteria) had reached a pinnacle in their performing career. Not - seemingly - any more you don't. It seems that just to have a camera pointed at you and 'OMG, ?I've made it.' (yawn)

Go to work in an office, and you take your mind along with your body for the statutory time of your employment for which you are paid money; even if you are a part-time / free-lancer, there is no essential difference.

Prostitutes (sex-workers) are no different from the rest of the 'employed,' in that they are essentially paid for their time that they are 'occupied in providing a service' ~ same as a waiter, window cleaner, dentist, lawyer and so on ~ in that they provide a service.

Whether you / we like that definition much, matters not because, there is a 'Customer' that wants a service done, and the sex-worker is willing (just like a dustman) to provide a service for the Customer.

The difference between those on the street and those in front of a camera has to do with 'boundaries,' as the one on camera has to (likely) have personnel to meet her / his needs to continue in this, and the one on the street likely doesn't.

If you think about it, the are members of the 'aristocracy' who make money from having their dogs and horses 'serviced' ~ and who also provide those 'Services,' for a hefty FEE.

And this is looked upon as .....'moral'? (Ah, but it is 'Business.')

Sash.

Answer 3

I don't have much to say except that I liked reading your "question". I think that when we call a woman a "prostitute" we mean to describe what she does as a PROFESSION and that is why we call the others porn 'stars' ( BTW they have sex for real in hard-core films). Porn 'star' describes their PROFESSION. But both prostitute themselves -- ie. they sell for money something that should be done only for love -- in the same way (example/analogy) that I feel that Mel Gibson was a great SERIOUS actor until he moved to Hollywood and in the last few years all he does is commercial crap for the silver screen. He sold his art and talent purely for the sake of money... he prostituted himself !

Answer 4

I think there is hug difference! Not so much morally, but in terms of safety and sexual health, I would say that these young girls on the streets are putting themselves in massive amount of danger!

The Porn industry has tighter rules now and actors and screened for STDs abd educated in it too...
Prositutes obviously had access to sexual health clinics but may not be educated enough to use them.

I agree that both industries are ugly and it's not fair that women are portrayed in this way, but remember most do it by choice. I know that finacial situation sometime dictate that they must turn to selling themselves, but many Porn stars are doing what they do of their own free will. (Prostitiutes, maybe not so much)

PS: Anti-porn is a good stance to take! It's such a hugh instdry with Billions of pounds and dollars being pumpped into it, it could take a knock once in a while!

Answer 5

Men have to put women down to make up for how easily they are entertained by it all.I prefer the term ''lady of easy virtue''.There are all types of women that do the same thing.Some maintain their self respect.Some are lost in drugs or just surviving.Like any person just because they are in the limelight they seem to be stars but they are the same as any body else.A girl off the street is different than an escort in the fact that she is wreckless and desparate.A stripper is different, as most will not have sex for money[they make enough dancing]
Young girls under 35 who do it ruin themselves for a good mans respect,as well as their own.
Most girls could write a book about interesting escapades.If done the right way it can be a fun easy way to make friends and lots of money.
Pornstars have little say in what is done to them.It is not as glamorous as it appears.

Answer 6

They are the same .The only difference is one is on the screen whereas the other one is on the corner .Person on TV is always given good attention irregardless whether she is better than other or not .Think about an an actor who plays a character of a teacher will always get respect than the normal teacher.I agree with you we should give them the same name that won't show favouritism as they both doing bad jobs

Answer 7

porn movies is not just a bunch a people getting together and just having sex
you work to a script.
they is a story line, lol not a very good one but all the same they is one there.
So in a porn movie do you think people really act the way they do screaming the place do...no it is acting ok it may not be good acting but acting all the same.
So porn stars pretend to do something, the roe may involve being a maid?the baby sister a nurse.the list could go on
it is just acting all the same as you get in a normal movie just as a lot of adult footage in the film.

All porn stars as you call it are very clean people they MUST have a up to date medical report on themselves.
as for drug users no more then your average movie star.


at the end of the day it is a living you do get to say what you will and will not do on camera.

kind regards x Kitti x

Answer 8

As others have pointed out, there is a lot more regulation in the porn field, but anytime you're having sex with others that are also extremely sexually active, you're taking a risk. It's also sad that in our country, if you want fame and/or money, you can always find someone who is willing to pay you for sex. I don't just think about the person being paid, I think about what kind of person pays for sex? How do you become a director, or lighting or staff for porn, what does it do to you to be around that every day?

Prostitutes have so many risks to deal with every day, pimps, crazy johns, std's, rape, murder, beatings, that there is a big difference between the health and safety risks they experience compared to a porn star. Who would also take this risk to pay someone for sex? What do you think of yourself, your gender, or sex if you are willing to take such risks to pay for it? It's definitely degrading to prostitutes, but I can't see it as anything but degrading for the one who buys sex as well.

Answer 9

There is no difference. They can both pick and choose whom they have sex with, although the ones on street corner tend to be desperate and need the money for drugs, their pimps, etc.
Porn stars are very well paid for what they do. They have control over the situation and are safe. No possibility of being beaten, raped or murdered. The streets girls and boys haven't got that option.
Porn stars are usually failed models and actresses. They are attractive but not enough to make it in the modelling world or talented enough to be an actress.

Answer 10

Firstly, I don't think 'porn star' is a term of respect any more than prostitute.
Also, I think any women who has sex for benefit is (at least morally) a prostitute. That includes women who marry for money, or sleep with people to further their careers, etc. I'm not saying sex needs to be for love, but it should at least be for mutual pleasure, not just what you can get out of it.I feel sorry for any woman who feels she has nothing worthy to give to another person but her body.