why are so many women choosing the sex industry as a career?

Question

i am fascinated with the recent explosion in the number of escorts, pole dancers, cam girls, etc. that there seems to be these days.
why do women choose these careers in the first place? and why all of a sudden are so many making that choice? what has changed from, say, 20 years ago? i don't buy that it is because of the internet.
i was discussing this with a woman friend; and she believes that all women in the sex trade have been sexually-molested at some point in their childhood. i don't agree with that. my own theory is that it is a combination of :
1. "big money, fast"?
2. vanity/validation ("i'm such a hot looking chick, X number of guys are lining up to pay X amount of money to be with me/look at me")?
3. "i love sex; i'm promiscuous anyway - i might as well get paid for it?"
4. "i'm rebelling against conformity"?
i saw a documentary on tv recently where one escort said she knew she wanted to be an escort since she was 12 or 13! that's gotta make you wonder!

Think about the Victorians. Then think about sixties “free love”. Some say we’re now living in a time called, “The New Morality”. To any UK adult that has been even innocently aware of the UK sex industry of the 60s -70s-80s-90s, it should be obvious that within the last 20 years the number of UK women that choose to work in the sex industry has grown. Of course, if you’re only 20 years old, it probably seems to you like things have always been the way it is.
To clarify my point about their being an explosion, have a look at the profiles of some of the women on these 3 sites, for example:
http://www.adultwork.co.uk
http://www.girl-directory.com/uk-escort-guide.php
http://www.northern-angels.co.uk/escorts.htm
those are just 3 sites out of tens of thousands (at least) of similar sites!
these escorts are not street crawlers. The majority of them are not high class call girls either. The majority of them are “ordinary” women. Keep in mind, there are 1000s of other sites like those 3.

I don’t buy the “low esteem” angle. It might apply in some cases (if you’re talking about some of the obviously drug-addled women that solicit on the streets). But I’m not talking about street walkers. Just read some of the profiles of the women on the sites I listed. What strikes me is how modern escorts assert what sexual acts THEY prefer. They clearly expect to get some sexual satisfaction out of the transaction. I don’t think a woman with low self esteem would have the huevos to lay down the law the way these escorts do in their profiles. I find it hard to believe that ALL modern escorts have low self esteem. I know for sure sex workers haven’t cornered the market on low self-esteem. I’m sure there are women professors who have low self-esteem. I’d bet that there are women astronauts who wrestle with their self-esteem from time to time. I believe every human being needs periodic “top ups” of their self esteem. I believe we all have different ways of replenishing our self-esteem.

The population of the UK is 60,776,238. 20,104,313 of the UK population are women 15-64 y.o. adultwork.co.uk ALONE has 9493 female providers on their books. Let’s assume all similar such UK adult sites have a similar number of adult service providers. Again, keep in mind: there are thousands of similar adult service provider sites in the UK. But let’s just extrapolate that number to 1000 UK adult sites. That’s an estimated 9,500,000 women in the UK alone offering some kind of adult service! That calculates to an estimation that close to 47% of the uk adult female population are offering some kind of sex service through one of the THOUSANDS of adult web sites!
So, those who suggest that adult sex providers were all sexually molested as children are also suggesting that nearly 50% of UK women have been sexually molested at some point in their childhood. The NSPCC’s numbers only total 9.5% (that is, assuming half of the NSPCC’s published total figure of 19% are girls).

Source:

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/whatwedo/mediacentre/mediaresources/facts_and_figures_wda33295.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html
http://www.adultwork.com/HomeGlobal.asp

here is some food for thought from a forum for escorts. it is a thread containing escorts' answers to the quesion, "how did you start?":

http://www.puntingzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=58051.msg483287#msg483287

Answer 1

I've been working as a porn star for the past 4 years. I have never been abused. I don't suffer from low self esteem if anything my friends tell me its annoyingly high! I don't touch drugs and I don't drink as I can't as I need to keep my body in shape and a clear head.Although I'm not denying that there are many girls that are in the industry that do this and I believe that is unacceptable.I think if they can't do this with a clear head then they shouldn't be here. Ofcourse I love sex but then who doesn't? The money is great and we get paid well but I wouldn't do my job if I didn't love it! Doing porn can be physically demanding as well as mentally. I enjoy the fact that its ok for me to be sexy and glamourous! Our std and hiv testing is rigorous every 3 weeks and we have to pay for a certificate to say we can work. Eventually I would like my own production company so I can direct my own movies, but for now I'm happy to continue pushing my bounderies as a performer and educating others through my knowledge of sex. Why did I pick this as a career I don't know? But one things for sure I am the happiest I ever been doing porn than anything else.

Answer 2

What a bunch of hooey. Women *do* choose it much of the time. Did someone force those women to be actresses? No. Can actresses choose which roles to audition for? Yes. There are actresses who pretty much never go for roles that require nudity or sex scenes. There are many roles that don't require nudity or sex, too. To say that these poor women are forced to do it is ludicrous! I think that if movies bother you this much, you should stop watching them. And in real life, women choose to make themselves into objects. Women don't strip because they must; they do it because it's an easy way to make a ton of money. They could get work doing other stuff but showing strangers their breasts makes money faster. Women and men who get into porn could, in fact, get other jobs. They choose it. They aren't forced. Even in our personal lives...the way we are treated in certain situations is often a result of how we present ourselves. Do we behave like sex objects? A lot of younger women do. Do we dress sexy and show off all our assets? A lot of women do that, too. That's a personal choice and it is often a direct cause of objectifying behaviour from others. That's within our control. >I can think of probably 5 or 10 movies I've ever seen that had male nudity, Ha ha, really? Because there are way, way more movies out there with male nudity in them than that. >(because it's ALWAYS male-centric) That's nonsense. I suppose chick flicks are ALWAYS male-centric too? Give me a break, woman! I think you are the one with the real problem here, not Hollywood. I think you have a rather serious case of victimhood. >and if you can't see that it's purely because you're a man Really? Wow! Then I guess I should contact the Guiness World Records people, and let them know that a man - me, apparently - has had 3 babies in the last 7 years. I'm amazing. I'm a woman, and I don't agree with a word you've said. I think you are angry and bitter over nothing more than your own skewed perceptions of reality. You have a victim complex - you look for oppression and sexism in every little detail of life, and as a result YOU are sexist.

Answer 3

Hypothetically speaking, from the beginning of time men have had the power. In Genesis women were supposedly made from Adam’s rib, so supposedly men are above us right?? Throughout history men have been seen as more powerful, we see Kings in a society where Queen’s were thought inadequate to rule. We’ve seen Vicars in churches where women weren’t even allowed to speak.

It’s only in the past 30 years or so that women have become more independent and have been able to have access to the same opportunities as men, but even then women with higher status than men are represents as man eaters or complete b*****s.

Anyway, sex…a male weakness right?? By choosing a career in the sex industry, whilst still conforming to what men ‘want’ we have the power, the power to manipulate. Men supposedly desire what they look like and what they do, all the attention is on the woman.

Answer 4

I don't believe that there has been an 'explosion' of the number of sex workers. What has changed is the openness and seemingly acceptance of sex workers in society, especially with people under 30. That's probably because causal sex in general is more accepted as the norm for unmarried teens and very young adults. Sex and the sex industry are not taboo topics to discuss in mixed company anymore.

Research backs up what your friend is saying, that a high percentage of these girls were sexually molested as kids and/or mentally or physically abused to the point that they have very low self-esteem.

However, I believe that there is a new breed of sex workers emerging who fit your description as well, at least for their naive reasons for starting. The problem is that once they get into that line of work---for whatever reason---it's very hard to get back out of it. You still can't put down on your resume that, "I was a street walker between such and such years." If these women had any self-esteem to begin with, it gets eroded from being used in various ways by their clients. Drug use is a common way out, a way to numb their emotions.

The one except is the high end escort services. They are filled with calculated user types with too much self esteem and they will take from their clients whatever their fertile brains can get out of the guys. Underneath all that fake, compliant female who "just loves sex" that you see on the surface are women who actually hate men to the extreme and see them as marks, not fellow human beings. If you looked into their childhoods you'd also see dysfunction that made them that way.

You'll never see a street walker work their way up to being a high end escort. It's always the other way around which should speak volumes to you about the sex industry. Bottom line: it's still all about self esteem issues.

Answer 5

As to your friend and > she believes that all women in the sex trade have been sexually-molested at some point in their childhood < Well, I love the 'easy answers' that set out to justify their own lack of broadband thinking and go for the jugular.

She may well be right, or partly or particularly, but how is she going to know without asking and evidence, and I mean 'Know' as in 'Knowledge.'

At the time I grew up, the evidence from society seemed to me to be saying that 'girls / women did not like sex,' that 'sex was a man based pleasure' and which women (in effect) submitted to because of their love for the man or then need to have children.

It was (I later discovered) a huge lie, and I later realised that not only did / do women actually enjoy sex, but often more than the man ~ although in some ways differently.

I suspect that the 'big money' is really only there for those near to the 'top of the trade,' and that for the rest it is generally 'fast money' as it is likely to be the 'cash in hand' type of transactions.

The Vanity and the Hot chick look, and the X numbers of guys lining up to look at me, so I may as well be paid for it, and the Rebelling against conformity ~ along with the love, enjoyment and pleasures in the sex itself ~ and the dressing up and so on, are likely all ingredients that have gone to fuel the seemingly mass movement into the industry.

As an afterthought, if you look around (and it's very easy to simply 'stumble onto them' ~ apart from the act of 'looking'), it is amazing just how many young girls, women and older women seem to be more than willing and very happy to have themselves photographed and filmed in explicit detail ~ both alone and with another body (male and or female) ~ 'performing' acts that prior to 10 years ago, would have been described in a Court of Law as 'unnatural acts.'

It in itself, those words and the actions of women does add credence to the 'Law is a Donkey,' expression. But then, so is Society.

Sash.

Answer 6

It's VERY EASY money requiring little skill. Realistically, it's probably the most attractive career choice for a good looking girl without any other special talent. It means being able to buy your own house in your 20s if you do it right. However, just like in sports, you should by your late twenties really be thinking about making a career switch.

I believe that only very recently (like in the last 10 or so years) has the stigma from having sex been lifted. Porn has become mainstream and I believe prostitution will follow very shortly, which is why more woman are making that career choice. In any case, it's certainly not any more demeaning than being a "pink collar" (waitress, cashier etc.) wage slave for a sh***y wage.

Answer 7

I agree with other posters, I don't think there's more of it, just more advertisement of the sex industry. Research has shown that a high percentage of sex workers were sexually molested, but not all people who are sexually molested end up as sex workers. So it's not a given.

The types of sex workers you are talking about are a subset, not necessarily prostitutes, so they may think there's big money in it, but once you get into it, these professions can be hard to get out of. You can't find anything else that will pay as well, without a decent education, even if you're not "marked" by the profession.

I can't imagine anyone with a decent self-esteem who would think being a sex worker would meet their vanity needs, their need for rebellion, or need for sex. There's a lot less risky ways to get those needs met, that don't involve threats of violence, rape, and exposure to hiv and aids.

Answer 8

They're doing it mainly for the money. They can earn a lot more money this way than they could if they worked at a pink collar job. Some are also doing it for the attention and others do it in the hopes of one day being able to break into a career in entertainment.

Answer 9

I would have to agree with your theory....1 & 2 For certain.

Well thought out and posted question.

Further.....take a look at the media, MTV, VH1, etc. If you look at the general ages of these young ladies (when first coming into this field of work), they have likely been inundated with images of women portrayed in a sexually overt manner from a very young age. *Moreso than I was, as I am now one generation up.
Likewise they have been saturated with the "idea" of the importance of the pursuit of $$ and all things "Bling" and how to go about getting it. Frankly it's a bit horrify to watch. I only have son's, but I see the way they treat and view young women, despite being raised by a STRONG , strong woman, but as strong as I am now, I too was once young and impressionable, and a freshly divorced college student.....and money is money...........and I didn't raise two young boys and earn my degrees without $$.
So, even though I find it horrifying, at the same time I see the "power" it gives some of these young women to fight their way to the top, just like it did me. I danced, for about 2 years, my sons were young and don't remeber, although if they asked I would tell them. I'm not ashamed, not by a long shot!
I always held on to the notion (which is kind of insulting to men, Sorry..) but I always felt like "WOW if they are this dumb, that they are going to pay me money to look at my body...hand it over fella's, HAND IT OVER, I've got baby's to feed and tuition to pay".
Was that wrong?
I never thought so,
..........but I also had the insight to jump right out of the industry as soon as I had that degree in my hand....I make less money...but that (my education and working in my chosen field and caring for my sons is what I was focused on all along!)
GREAT QUESTION!
I did initially forget to address the "sexual abuse theory" which I believe could have some correlation to working in the sex industry, or so I've read, and actually seen with some of my past clients who are prostitutes. Although I don't think that at this time it is the "biggest" contribuing factor to the decision to work in the field.
I do think the field has grown recently, but like one of the above answerers mentioned, the sex industry has been around forever.

Answer 10

I would like to see some statistical data that reflects overall population growth before I accept your statement.

I live in Tampa, home of World Famous Mons Venus, Diamond Dolls, Baby Dolls, The Tanga, etc, et all. You cannot hear a song about strippers in the US that does not make mention of Tampa. Girls Gone Wild is shot here (Club Skye, 1509 Ybor City!) We have more and larger adult entertainment awards functions than Vegas.

Strip Club owners run for office here, and almost MAKE it!
Dress code regulations for hot dog vendors? Started here.

And still, I do not see more or new establishments opening, nor do these places ever employ more girls than need be (dancers typically pay the club to work there, not vice versa). Every city has codes about the number of establishments that can exist at one time. Ever try to get a liquor license? Of course you haven't. Every city limits new issuances... usually you must take over an existing license, and CANNOT be issued a new one.

I know that a dancer in Tampa can make 35 to 50 K a year, in cash, and not break 30 hours a week. On our pay scale, bank managers commonly make less than 50K, before bonuses.

So, in short, if men didn't drop billions annually on strippers, it wouldn't be such a lucrative profession.

Increased mention in hip hop songs does not make for statistical explosion.

The growth of the number of establishments that can serve alcoholic beverages is limited by your city government, as for ones that cater to adult clientèle. If you are seeing an explosion of strip clubs (which I patently deny you are) take it up with city council. They make the zones, and issue the licenses.

I still deny your whimsical opinion that this is a bigger growth industry than any other entertainment industry.