sex work
Selling physical services
Sex work is the exchange of sexual services for money or other compensation.
The term encompasses prostitution, escorting, pornography, stripping, and similar occupations.
It emerged as a neutral alternative to older terms like prostitution, framing the activity as labor rather than crime or moral failing: Sex workers deserve labor protections.
The term is preferred by advocates but rejected by those who view the activity as inherently exploitative.
One who accompanies another
- prostitutionCommercial sexual services
- cammingSetting mechanical protection
- strippingRemoving outer layers
- pornographySexually explicit arousing material
massage parlor · streetwalking · brothel · independent · full-service · sugar dating · domination · companionship
Mark of dishonor
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
exploitation · criminalization · regulation · prohibition · advocacy · rights · autonomy · consent
State of having company
- girlfriend experiencePaid romantic simulation
- sensualityPursuit of physical pleasure
- connectionA joining or relation
- desireIntense wanting
pleasure · touch · affection · boundaries · consent · chemistry · roleplay · fantasy
Severe lack of resources
- desperationUtter loss of hope
- necessityIndispensable requirement
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
marginalization · precarity · coercion · homelessness · addiction · exploitation · underground · criminalization
escort
One who accompanies another
- prostitutionCommercial sexual services
- cammingSetting mechanical protection
- strippingRemoving outer layers
pornography · massage parlor · streetwalking · brothel · independent · full-service · sugar dating · domination · companionship · outcall
stigma
Mark of dishonor
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
taboo · exploitation · criminalization · regulation · prohibition · advocacy · rights · autonomy · consent · feminism
companionship
State of having company
- girlfriend experiencePaid romantic simulation
- sensualityPursuit of physical pleasure
- connectionA joining or relation
desire · pleasure · touch · affection · boundaries · consent · chemistry · roleplay · fantasy · closeness
poverty
Severe lack of resources
- desperationUtter loss of hope
- necessityIndispensable requirement
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
vulnerability · marginalization · precarity · coercion · homelessness · addiction · exploitation · underground · criminalization · danger
- AmsterdamAnne Frank House, Amstel, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, canal boats
- sexual ethicssexual morality, sexual ethics, chastity, adultery, human sexuality
- Stigmasmental illness, HIV, AIDS, homelessness, addiction
- vicevice, debauchery, prostitution, depravity, immorality
- prostitutionbrothel, brothels, bordello, bordellos, prostitutes
- sex tradeprostitution, brothel, escort, pimp, streetwalker
sex workcelibacy
Abstaining from intimate relations
abstinence · chastity · asexuality · virginity · monasticism
sex workromantic love
Deep amorous attachment
marriage · conjugal relations · lovemaking · dating · emotional intimacy
sex workoffice work
Administrative job tasks
intellectual labor · manual labor · domestic labor · charity work · volunteer work