DragoonKain
Neighbours from Hell
It seems as if the term "sex worker" has become the societally accepted term over prostitute these days. It may not be as ubiquitous as other terminology, but it's pretty commonly used now. Especially if you frequent the true crime communities, it's basically mandated language now in those circles. And yes, it's widely used now instead of prostitutes, not just escorts for escort services. At least the latter I think you can have a much better case of the term being apropos.
Let me start by saying none of this is some life altering thing. I prefer the term prostitute for reasons I'll touch on in a sec, but I've never cared if people use the term sex worker. However, I frequent some true crime communities and have been "corrected" when I've used the term prostitute. By people in real life as well. So other people have kinda brought this debate to my doorstep rather than the other way around. I've debated people about this and why I prefer to use the term prostitute.
So the general idea for the term "sex worker" is it's a softer term with less stigma behind it and it's important to not judge or vilify people who are on the streets desperate and trying to make a buck to survive. And I agree that we shouldn't shame or demonize these people, because prostitution doesn't make someone a bad human being; it is important to stigmatize it. Prostitution is extremely dangerous. Especially for women, but even men who are into it. For a variety of reasons, it's one of the more dangerous things people can do. STDs, hygiene, a lot of prostitutes are heavily into drugs or forced into drugs by their pimps(if they have one). And getting into the car with complete strangers willing to break the law is always extremely dangerous. The fewer people who get into prostitution the better. Less risks = less death = a win. Do I think the terminology will drastically make a difference in that regard? No, but it can't hurt. Plus, in general, I just don't like the idea of destigmatizing something that is really dangerous even if my actions have zero net impact on anything. I just find it gross, I don't know how else to put it other than that.
And the other reason I dislike the term sex worker is that it isn't work. It's not official employment. It's illegal. It's no more work than being a drug dealer or an illegal gambler. Or someone who runs a dog fighting operation.
I even ran the question to ChatGPT to see what its take on the issue is. I realize it's not a person, but I've already debated people and found their arguments weak, so wanted to see what it would throw at me. I started off by asking if being a drug dealer is work and it said no. I said well then if being a drug dealer is work, then why do people call prostitutes "sex workers" if that is also illegal. Its response was:
1) It's consensual. It's two people mutually agreeing to exchange money for pleasure. This makes it different from drugs, which are illegal and also have severe health consequences. Ummm... prostitution is also illegal, so that argument is
and prostitution also has severe health consequences so that argument is also
2) While prostitution is illegal, there are movements to try and get it decriminalized so they can improve their working conditions and stop their exploitation. There are also movements to decriminalize drugs. Hell, some cities in this country have already dabbled in it to varying degrees. And drug dealers don't exactly have ideal "working conditions" either. Also, drug dealers are also exploited. Another bunk argument.
3) Social stigma. It's important to recognize the challenges of.... [insert word salad here, you get the point]. And whether it's debating people online, people in person, or picking the "brain" of ChatGPT, this seems to be the best that anyone can offer. A bunch of arguments that are either factually wrong or don't hold up to scrutiny and it really just boils down to "sex worker is a more friendly term and we don't want to offend people."
Not to sound conceited, but I think the argument I laid out is far superior and makes much more logical sense. I realize not many people who post here probably give a single fuck about this topic or any of this, but if there is anyone here who does, I'd love for someone to explain to my how my position is wrong(if it's wrong). Maybe there's a side I haven't heard yet. Again, like I mentioned before, I don't think this is some noble cause or anything that we should be marching on the streets for. It's just simple terminology. But it did start to become a pet peeve of mine in recent years when I was being "corrected" by various people in conversations, and that's when I really started to gravitate toward this debate. And yes, I realize, I just wrote a several paragraphs analysis on the term prostitute vs sex worker on a Sunday morning that wasn't a college dissertation
Let me start by saying none of this is some life altering thing. I prefer the term prostitute for reasons I'll touch on in a sec, but I've never cared if people use the term sex worker. However, I frequent some true crime communities and have been "corrected" when I've used the term prostitute. By people in real life as well. So other people have kinda brought this debate to my doorstep rather than the other way around. I've debated people about this and why I prefer to use the term prostitute.
So the general idea for the term "sex worker" is it's a softer term with less stigma behind it and it's important to not judge or vilify people who are on the streets desperate and trying to make a buck to survive. And I agree that we shouldn't shame or demonize these people, because prostitution doesn't make someone a bad human being; it is important to stigmatize it. Prostitution is extremely dangerous. Especially for women, but even men who are into it. For a variety of reasons, it's one of the more dangerous things people can do. STDs, hygiene, a lot of prostitutes are heavily into drugs or forced into drugs by their pimps(if they have one). And getting into the car with complete strangers willing to break the law is always extremely dangerous. The fewer people who get into prostitution the better. Less risks = less death = a win. Do I think the terminology will drastically make a difference in that regard? No, but it can't hurt. Plus, in general, I just don't like the idea of destigmatizing something that is really dangerous even if my actions have zero net impact on anything. I just find it gross, I don't know how else to put it other than that.
And the other reason I dislike the term sex worker is that it isn't work. It's not official employment. It's illegal. It's no more work than being a drug dealer or an illegal gambler. Or someone who runs a dog fighting operation.
I even ran the question to ChatGPT to see what its take on the issue is. I realize it's not a person, but I've already debated people and found their arguments weak, so wanted to see what it would throw at me. I started off by asking if being a drug dealer is work and it said no. I said well then if being a drug dealer is work, then why do people call prostitutes "sex workers" if that is also illegal. Its response was:
1) It's consensual. It's two people mutually agreeing to exchange money for pleasure. This makes it different from drugs, which are illegal and also have severe health consequences. Ummm... prostitution is also illegal, so that argument is
and prostitution also has severe health consequences so that argument is also2) While prostitution is illegal, there are movements to try and get it decriminalized so they can improve their working conditions and stop their exploitation. There are also movements to decriminalize drugs. Hell, some cities in this country have already dabbled in it to varying degrees. And drug dealers don't exactly have ideal "working conditions" either. Also, drug dealers are also exploited. Another bunk argument.
3) Social stigma. It's important to recognize the challenges of.... [insert word salad here, you get the point]. And whether it's debating people online, people in person, or picking the "brain" of ChatGPT, this seems to be the best that anyone can offer. A bunch of arguments that are either factually wrong or don't hold up to scrutiny and it really just boils down to "sex worker is a more friendly term and we don't want to offend people."
Not to sound conceited, but I think the argument I laid out is far superior and makes much more logical sense. I realize not many people who post here probably give a single fuck about this topic or any of this, but if there is anyone here who does, I'd love for someone to explain to my how my position is wrong(if it's wrong). Maybe there's a side I haven't heard yet. Again, like I mentioned before, I don't think this is some noble cause or anything that we should be marching on the streets for. It's just simple terminology. But it did start to become a pet peeve of mine in recent years when I was being "corrected" by various people in conversations, and that's when I really started to gravitate toward this debate. And yes, I realize, I just wrote a several paragraphs analysis on the term prostitute vs sex worker on a Sunday morning that wasn't a college dissertation
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