A pledge for International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers

This Saturday, Dec 17, marks the International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers.

And I’m not sure what to say about it.

I could start off by talking about the violence that many sex workers deal with, or the social stigma, or the legal difficulties that many sex workers are subject to.

I could mention the people I know who have worked in, or currently are working in the sex trade, but I don’t want to disclose their names, ages or genders, because I believe in their right to privacy.

I could talk about how a lot of the mainstream media still uses the term “hooker” for sex workers. Of how they are often painted as victims and addicts, no matter what their situation may or may not be.

But to do any of those things would give only the smallest insight into why this day exists.

So I made a promise to myself. To read about sex work. To talk about it. To make an effort to understand it as much as possible so that when the day comes when I do write about it, I can write about it in a way that is respectful and representative of the sex work industry.

This is what I am doing for this year’s International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers.