9 Stereotypes Sex Workers Are Tired Of Hearing

9 Stereotypes About Sex Work That Have To Stop
TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY ALIX RIJCKAERT A German prostitute, called Eve, waits for clients behind her window in the red light district of Amsterdam on December 8, 2008. Under a plan called Coalitions Project 2012, unveiled on December 6, 2008 by the city council, Amsterdam plans to halve the number of prostitution windows and cannabis-vending coffee shops in a revamp of its historic center aimed at curbing rising crime. Prostitution was legalized in the Netherlands in 2000 AFP PHOTO/ANOEK DE GROOT (Photo credit should read ANOEK DE GROOT/AFP/Getty Images)
TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY ALIX RIJCKAERT A German prostitute, called Eve, waits for clients behind her window in the red light district of Amsterdam on December 8, 2008. Under a plan called Coalitions Project 2012, unveiled on December 6, 2008 by the city council, Amsterdam plans to halve the number of prostitution windows and cannabis-vending coffee shops in a revamp of its historic center aimed at curbing rising crime. Prostitution was legalized in the Netherlands in 2000 AFP PHOTO/ANOEK DE GROOT (Photo credit should read ANOEK DE GROOT/AFP/Getty Images)

Being open about my profession has made me a sounding board for some common, but unfortunate stereotypes and myths that people derive from pop cultural references, such as Julia Roberts' character in "Pretty Woman" and the many "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" episodes devoted to the topic.

Although these questions tend to be obnoxious generalizations, they don't necessarily come from a malicious place, but rather from simple ignorance about the everyday lives of people in the sex industry. Instead of framing discussions about sex and sexuality through a sex-positive lens, many people work tirelessly to remove these topics from educational settings, which leads to a culture defined by slut-shaming remarks and behaviors.

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