In a capitalist society, where we sell our labour to earn wages, sex work is just another form of work. The recent observation of the Supreme Court of India hints at the same. Sex work, like all other forms of work, has exploitative labour relationships. Those who are keen to learn about what sex workers have to say about their work do read: The autobiography of a sex worker by Nalini Jameela, originally written in Malayalam and later translated into English and King Kong Theory by Virginie Despentes, written in French and later translated into English. Both are autobiographical works written by workers themselves.
They argue that sex work may look like a very exploitative arrangement of work, but it is no different from any other occupation. Nalini Jameela says that sometimes girls and women are forced into the occupation of sex work. If they would like to move out of the occupation, there should be a support system for them to move out. Many workers including Nalini Jameela and Virginie Despentes feel that they are better off in sex work than being in other occupations as it gives them a sense of autonomy, and control over time and resources. Jameela’s formula for those workers who are in sex work and would like to continue in the occupation, they should get organised in unions to end exploitative power relationships and to have more control over deciding who their customers can be, and sex workers should have pride in their occupation and own it up.
Further, both Despentes and Jameela shared that sex work for them is no different from the work of a therapist, where they end up giving a patient hearing to their customers and counselling them. Sex workers gratify the deep and hidden desires of those who are coming to have their sex services. A lot of adolescent men learn the art of sex and have their first lessons in sex education from the sex workers. According to both authors, sex workers are not passive recipients of penis advantages, they participate as equals in the act of sex.
Maleccha 