I can see where people are coming from in not thinking that sex work belongs in a relationship diagram. As long as it is just a buisness transaction it isn't a relationship. If a relationship develops it would then fall into another catagory. Even if the financial transactions were still taking place the relationship would be based more on other things than simply money.
Yeah, you could put it that way. I think it belongs in some diagram though; some people (and I include myself here) had sex for the first time with someone of this profession. I certainly believe that monetizing relationships is a dicey proposition, but clearly some people, including atleast one person who identifies herself as poly that I know of, still feels that it's worth the risks involved.
Also there was some discussion about sex workers being different from buying a dildo because the transaction with buying a dildo would be quickly forgotten and the seller would move on. I would hazzard to guess that there are sex workers out there who don't hold every experience with every client in their mind either.
For sure. However, there are some finer points here that I'll get into below...
It's the same as with any job, a lot of what you do is very mundane and the day to day just blurs together.
I can't really imagine the job of a sex worker as being "the same as with any job". I guess it could be seen as mundane, but... it's just... I admit that the only comparison I can think of is drugs (something which I've never had an interest in personally). They're something that I've never had an interest in, and I'm sure they could get to be mundane to those who use them, but the whole thing is underground; a place society has decreed that people aren't supposed to be. So even if it becomes regular, I can't ever imagine it being just like "any job".
I imagine that sex workers do remember experiences with regular clients
Yes. These are the types of people I was thinking of the most in this type of thing.
but one offs are likely very similar to a dildo transaction for the sex worker.
Personally, I could never equate what a dildo does with what a sex worker does. Yes, they both "stimulate" sexual organs, but that's about as far as the comparison can go in my mind.
(If there is anyone out there who has done sex work please feel free to chime in as all this is speculation on my part).
This is really the problem; we speculate on this subject, and those who actually do engage in this type of work generally aren't the type to speak too much about it. There are some who do, atleast of the former sex worker type. Here's an excerpt of a blog post called
Social Embrace from one such woman:
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Nobody is `cut out` for any profession. We find our course with what tools we have in life, gain experiences and utilize them in order to survive.
Some can get social acknowledgement and respect in doing so.
Not so, prostitutes!
Attitudes and fears keep them from the safety and social embrace others experience.
prostitutes are the social outlaws of humanity.
Society turns its back because it cannot control the images we so revere in our vision of what woman `should` represent.
Shame on your back, it is turned!
Why?
How could you be so heartless and unintelligent in your condemnation of women who are professional prostitutes?
At least the clients show their token of respect and value in acknowledging the worth of the lesson.
Much as people leave their `tokens` or payment for other help, beit at church, or in any other profession that helps or advises.
Lynne Tansey,
Writer/artist/human rights advocate.
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Here's her blog:
http://lynnetansey.blogspot.com/