#sanclemente may have been here

The lives of 19th century women are known to us today mainly through their letters and writing, but also through the then new (black-and-white) portrait photography, and the vivid paintings, pastels and watercolours of impressionist artists.

Whenever my job is mentioned in newspapers, blogs, or magazines, the same tropes tend to pop up: moral panic, drug abuse, violence. Journalists quote us selectively, so that it sounds as if we’re living out the sex-negative, whorephobic stereotypes the public are used to consuming.

We’re not different from you. We’re just doing a job, the same way you are. Any kind of person could be a sex worker. You probably know more sex workers than you think you do.

We should treat our bodies and our homeland as a temple as much as we can, otherwise let your health or quality of living become unsustainable.

Podcasting is an excellent medium for talking about sex work. It can give us an intimate entry into the life of the presenter, with all those tiny details, such as mannerisms and sense of humour, that may not carry over into text.