Guardian 29/01/2021 UK sex workers face rising violence and hardship during pand

[expeller]

Interesting article in today's Guardian   External Link/Members Only

[Jayne_cobb]

Yet again media is conflating “sex work” with the street hookers. I know it’s the Guardian so we should expect them to be rushing to the lowest common denominator.
Not wanting to get into the “escorts must be rolling in cash” discussion again but surely most escorts earning between £60-100 for hh of work has put some away for a rainy day?
A proportion probably blow it all and are now in dire straits, and we have had a year of this lockdown shit to contend with.
It is a shame if women are being forced to risk their health but it’s probably the same ones who were at risk before the pandemic due to poverty.

[StingRay]

Yet again media is conflating “sex work” with the street hookers. I know it’s the Guardian so we should expect them to be rushing to the lowest common denominator.
Not wanting to get into the “escorts must be rolling in cash” discussion again but surely most escorts earning between £60-100 for hh of work has put some away for a rainy day?
A proportion probably blow it all and are now in dire straits, and we have had a year of this lockdown shit to contend with.
It is a shame if women are being forced to risk their health but it’s probably the same ones who were at risk before the pandemic due to poverty.

Logically yes, but essentials such as a wardrobe full of designer handbags and shoes don't come cheap!

[petermisc]

Logically yes, but essentials such as a wardrobe full of designer handbags and shoes don't come cheap!

Very true.  In most cases, their expenses rise to match their incomes.  Many Asians send money back home to support their families, but they are the exception.  I think many, particularly the EEs come here expecting to make their fortune and retire rich, but fail to account for the cost of living and working in the UK.  Most seem to return home little better off than when they arrived.

[petermisc]

Yet again media is conflating “sex work” with the street hookers. I know it’s the Guardian so we should expect them to be rushing to the lowest common denominator.
Not wanting to get into the “escorts must be rolling in cash” discussion again but surely most escorts earning between £60-100 for hh of work has put some away for a rainy day?

Totally agree about the sex work = street hookers thing.  Street sex workers must be a very tiny proportion, but unfortunately I think they are also the most visible aspect, and probably the most objectionable, to non-punters.

If you think most escorts £60-100 /hh  have significant sums put aside for a rainy day, then you are living in cloud cuckoo land.  Why do you think so many of them are still working during the lockdown?

[chadpitt]

Let me grab the world's smallest violin 

They're income has fallen of a cliff they say? Well they pushed up their prices which is great Prossie logic in an economic downturn.

If they struggle to get government support but fail to declare earnings and pay taxes then boohoo.

[Buttplug]

I should think that a lot are claiming benefits as well . They certainly won't be paying tax on there income. Or am I just clinical?

[Crackpot11]

There is an interesting point to be made about the economic effects on escorts. I’m not talking about those forced into it or doing it as a last resort, but I predict with general economic downturn it will mean probably more women out of choice for easy money turning to it and a lowering of prices. I think most have been able to carry on working if from their own homes or outcalls to some extent and as you say I doubt many declare it as it’s all cash in hand as they probably claim some benefits too. My preference is hobby whores, so I’m hoping some more wives and single mums who enjoy sex turn to their hobby to make some cash.

[petermisc]

There is an interesting point to be made about the economic effects on escorts. I’m not talking about those forced into it or doing it as a last resort, but I predict with general economic downturn it will mean probably more women out of choice for easy money turning to it and a lowering of prices.

I don't doubt what you say about more women turning to escorting, but as to it leading to a lowering of prices is another matter.  There is already another thread on here about the absurd prices a lot of these newcomers are charging.  The home-grown talent has always charged more than the EE imports, but some now seem to have their heads in the clouds pricewise.

[LLPunting]

I don't doubt what you say about more women turning to escorting, but as to it leading to a lowering of prices is another matter.  There is already another thread on here about the absurd prices a lot of these newcomers are charging.  The home-grown talent has always charged more than the EE imports, but some now seem to have their heads in the clouds pricewise.

Only since the entitled generations started selling their wares in the metropolitan areas and idiot punters indulged them, thinking quality was reflected by price or the amount of make-up worn in the photos.

[Whiteknight]

There is an interesting point to be made about the economic effects on escorts. I’m not talking about those forced into it or doing it as a last resort, but I predict with general economic downturn it will mean probably more women out of choice for easy money turning to it and a lowering of prices. I think most have been able to carry on working if from their own homes or outcalls to some extent and as you say I doubt many declare it as it’s all cash in hand as they probably claim some benefits too. My preference is hobby whores, so I’m hoping some more wives and single mums who enjoy sex turn to their hobby to make some cash.

Yes I love MILF, young mum, doing it part time and simply love sex and earn some money on the side.

[StingRay]

In fairness, I believe that quite a few Roms and EEs are also sending money home to family. Even though these are not 3rd world countries, local wages are low, if you can even get a job that is.

In the UK these days, outside this "profession", the alternative is sometimes just £10 ph and you have to work f*cking hard for it!

[Fuggedaboutit]

In fairness, I believe that quite a few Roms and EEs are also sending money home to family. Even though these are not 3rd world countries, local wages are low, if you can even get a job that is.

In the UK these days, outside this "profession", the alternative is sometimes just £10 ph and you have to work f*cking hard for it!

Abso-fucking-lutely...for various personal reasons I gave up a relatively well paid full time job and am now part time (love the work life balance and lack of responsibility), but some of the rates per hour (for part time) are exactly the same as when I started 18 years ago. You've got criminal barristers effectively earning sub minimum wage when you take work/hours into account. You can certainly see why women in their 20s see Onlyfans/cam work (and possibly progressing into being an SP) as a sensible career alternative...

[Paris69]

Some great points well made here, without differences of opinion ending up in a message fight..
My own tuppence worth is in agreement wit the earlier points that a 'wardrobe of designer/clothes and bags doesn't come cheap'... which means many, in fact most have nowt put aside... And yes, 99.9% declare nothing to HMRC and do claim benefits.

My posts of 3-4 years ago highlighted i ended up in a relationship with one for 6 months/lived together - so i really got an insight into that world. This wasn't a friends with benefits thing - this was me living with her.
I didn't want her to work; but she wanted independence and money, as it was likely we wouldn't last - and despite the fact i was easily able to make sure she never had to work again. Anyway, different thread/different discussion...

All of her friends who worked spent their £ on designer this and that, deliveroo, wine and coke (not as in Cola i might add) and giving money away to sob story ex's or friends.... etc etc.

Believe me, even without her having to pay out a single penny, £2k a week was gone at weeks end.
Same for all of her pals.

I only know of two who have put a lot of £ away..... 'lot' is all relative of course.
But i mean as in buying a house in the sun to retire too, when the looks dry up

[Crackpot11]

I knew an escort who gave it up for normal family life and got a job as a care worker. She last about three months, before she packed it in and went back after realising she could earn in a day as an escort what she did in a week as a care worker. Plus she loved sex and didn’t have to pay tax.

[Removefacepic]

Any time of sex work is regarding as sex work - including street workers

[Alexmck]

Some great points well made here, without differences of opinion ending up in a message fight..
My own tuppence worth is in agreement wit the earlier points that a 'wardrobe of designer/clothes and bags doesn't come cheap'... which means many, in fact most have nowt put aside... And yes, 99.9% declare nothing to HMRC and do claim benefits.

My posts of 3-4 years ago highlighted i ended up in a relationship with one for 6 months/lived together - so i really got an insight into that world. This wasn't a friends with benefits thing - this was me living with her.
I didn't want her to work; but she wanted independence and money, as it was likely we wouldn't last - and despite the fact i was easily able to make sure she never had to work again. Anyway, different thread/different discussion...

All of her friends who worked spent their £ on designer this and that, deliveroo, wine and coke (not as in Cola i might add) and giving money away to sob story ex's or friends.... etc etc.

Believe me, even without her having to pay out a single penny, £2k a week was gone at weeks end.
Same for all of her pals.

I only know of two who have put a lot of £ away..... 'lot' is all relative of course.
But i mean as in buying a house in the sun to retire too, when the looks dry up

£2k a week. That's not chump change!

[StingRay]

Girls used to target £500 minimum per day, and usually work at least 4 or 5 days a week

[JetSetWilly]

Yet again media is conflating “sex work” with the street hookers

Indeed. If anything, i'd imagine the boom for camgirls by far outstrips the losses for "street hookers". Particularly considering the govt gives you £500 for self isolating if you catch covid19.

[Crackpot11]

Indeed. If anything, i'd imagine the boom for camgirls by far outstrips the losses for "street hookers". Particularly considering the govt gives you £500 for self isolating if you catch covid19.

That’s a good point. I would imagine that when demand drops for cam girls then some might opt to escort or strip, as not too big a step. I would imagine that street prostitution accounts for about 10% or less of sex workers, and yet the media is always suggesting other wise. The media is obsessed with street workers, brothel slaves or the other extreme - elite high class call girls.  One thing I have never seen a documentary on is what I think is a growing sector, independent working escorts. Those who choose to do it as a career or hobby and are in control of their own destiny and generally work from their own homes. The escorts I encounter are this type and have a variety of reasons for escorting, some are swingers or enjoy multiple partners and found the step from it being their hobby not very far and obviously the money! That’s not to say there aren’t a fair few with issues such as drugs or alcohol or mental health, but on the whole I'd say it’s their own choice and they aren’t being pimped out. My guess is the moral majority hate the idea that prostitution is anything other than exploitation or some ‘confessions of a call girl’ fantasy.

[petermisc]

The media is obsessed with street workers, brothel slaves or the other extreme - elite high class call girls.  One thing I have never seen a documentary on is what I think is a growing sector, independent working escorts. Those who choose to do it as a career or hobby and are in control of their own destiny and generally work from their own homes.

Agreed.  I think the vast majority of SPs fall into this category, but it doesn't fit the media or political narratives.

Any documentary would surely need some cooperation from the girls, and I think being exposed on such a documentary would be the last thing the kind of girl you describe would want.  Plenty to lose, what have they to gain by cooperating with such a documentary?

[Crackpot11]

Agreed.  I think the vast majority of SPs fall into this category, but it doesn't fit the media or political narratives.

Any documentary would surely need some cooperation from the girls, and I think being exposed on such a documentary would be the last thing the kind of girl you describe would want.  Plenty to lose, what have they to gain by cooperating with such a documentary?

True, but my point is I think the majority of escorts fit this category. Obviously they would be branded sluts and hussies, as the moral brigade doesn’t want to know about everyday women actually enjoying sex and being paid for it, but it would be interesting to see another perspective.

[Slaveofnature]

I don't doubt what you say about more women turning to escorting, but as to it leading to a lowering of prices is another matter.  There is already another thread on here about the absurd prices a lot of these newcomers are charging.  The home-grown talent has always charged more than the EE imports, but some now seem to have their heads in the clouds pricewise.

I would agree that prices are generally on the up but it doesn't help when reviewers make daft statements like 'it was £120 per hour but I would happily have paid £150" or "price was £100 for half hour and she was worth it".
As long as they have punters with more money than sense the prices are probably going to go up.

[Slaveofnature]

Yet again media is conflating “sex work” with the street hookers. I know it’s the Guardian so we should expect them to be rushing to the lowest common denominator.
Not wanting to get into the “escorts must be rolling in cash” discussion again but surely most escorts earning between £60-100 for hh of work has put some away for a rainy day?
A proportion probably blow it all and are now in dire straits, and we have had a year of this lockdown shit to contend with.
It is a shame if women are being forced to risk their health but it’s probably the same ones who were at risk before the pandemic due to poverty.

v
Where I live I used to drive past lots of street walkers in the dock area but now there are none.  AW has knocked that market right on the head.  And you are right - whenever the media do a story on sex work its always the same sort of photo that is used  - a hooker in short skirt and boots leaning down to a car window.  The thing is who is going to call them out on it?