Every now and then some politicians propose a law that can legalize (unfortunately nobody talks about decriminalization yet) sex work in Italy. A lot of people support this idea but many more stand for prohibitionism. But how many actually know something about sex work? And how many look for some answers to their questions about this topic? That’s what Bossy’s here for. We had the chance to meet and interview Laura Lee, a campaigner, blogger and sex worker. Born in Ireland but based in Scotland, she fights every day for the rights of sex workers to work in freedom.
When and why did you decide to be a sex worker?
I went into the industry at the age of 19. I was going to University and I didn’t want to leave choking under debt. Some of my friends were working 3-4 nights a week in a restaurant, our University timetable was exhausting and I took the unorthodox route of becoming the Saturday girl in the local massage and it worked for me.
Why did you keep on working in this industry?
The trouble is, the industry is quite addictive in terms of the freedom that gives you, flexibility of working and you’re your own boss. That’s obviously not across the industry, some people are in terrible circumstances and I acknowledge that, but for me as a mature student, mother, campaigner and writer it just suits my life.
What do you think about those who decide to be sex workers just because of the money?
Women in this country are suffering as a result of austerity. They’re suffering from job losses, partners walking out, benefits cuts, so in some circumstances they feel they don’t have any other option but to go into sex work. In my view because they are women and they’re in such terrible circumstances, it is important that they have the safest working environment as possible.
What are the most frequent criticisms that have been made to you?
I’ve been called a middle class, privileged, educated journalist and that’s from the nice people. I acknowledge my privilege but I also acknowledge my past which was anything but privileged.
How did you tell your family about your job?
I had to tell my family really quickly on two separate occasions.
The first one was when I was living in Ireland, I was doorstepped by the press and they threatened to write my story on that Sunday, so I had 24 hours to tell my family. I did tell them but in the end they pulled the story so there was no need to tell them, but I’m kind of glad I did.
The second time I was working in Scotland and I was outed. I had to tell my daughter, who was then 7, but obviously in very very watered-down terms, just to prepare her for any kind of hate and she’s now 14 and one of the fiercest feminists you’ll meet.
What would you say to those who think that sex workers are more likely to get STIs?
The statistics show it’s not true. When your body is your job, it pays you to keep it at top conditions. I’m in and out of my GUM clinic all the time and I ALWAYS practice safe sex.
I would say that you are far more likely to contract an STI from someone that you had a drunken encounter with to a club on a Friday night when you don’t use protection, than you are with a professional sex worker.
What is the best thing about being an escort?
The best thing is that I get to indulge my inner pervert and I’ve got lots of very diverse experiences with a wide variety of people. Sometimes it’s fun, I’m not saying my job is great because it’s not. Sometime it is and sometimes I could kick my client out of the window, it’s the same as any other job. The financial freedom is great too.
And the worst one?
The worst part is I definitely the stigma. People hold you in contempt for what you choose to do with your own body. Some sex workers really struggle with depression because people are constantly judging them. I think most people don’t understand the reality of sex workers. It’s only 25% of sex. Our job is about making the other person feel the centre of your world for the time that you’re together and helping them with the issues that they might have too, but people don’t see that.
Can you give me an example of countries where decriminalization worked?
The two countries I can think of where decriminalization is in, and it’s been successful, are New Zealand (who brought it in 2003) and then you’ve got New South Wales in Australia.
In New Zealand sex workers reported feeling a greater sense of peace and serenity at work. They felt more valued, attacks on sex workers went down dramatically and relationships with the police were greatly improved. They’re now able to compel their clients to wear a condom, it’s against the law not to.
Also last year New Zealand was the sight of the first successful case where a sex worker sued her employer under her labour rights and she won. That’s where we want to get to, we want the same level of labour rights as any other industry.
How would decriminalization affect the trafficking of young girls from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe?
In terms of the problems with trafficking what we’re looking at is a deficit in policing and enforcement. What I know is that further criminalization pushes sex workers and clients further away from organizations and police that can help trafficking victims. In a decriminalize State, where you see greater open relationships with police and authorities, trafficking tends to go down and you can see that from New Zealand.
If there’s somebody who has been trafficked into the country, the only people who will see her, apart from her traffickers obviously, are the clients. Now, if you make it illegal for the clients to pay, they’re not going to report anything they have seen because they’re committing into a crime. So, decriminalization works in just opening up the channels of communication, because nobody more than us, sex workers, wants to stop that practise.
What’s the relationship between sex workers and feminism?
It’s deeply divided. You’ve got the Fourth Wave Feminists and they are, I suppose, where I would be at. They’re very much inclusive of sex workers and trans women. Then you have the Second Wavers, who are hard-core radical feminists and they hate us and they refuse to acknowledge trans women as well, they deliberate misgender them and refer to them as men. They just can’t see that as a feminist you can actually make the choice to be a sex worker and not throw yourself under the wheels of the patriarchy.
So you consider yourself a feminist? Of the good side, I mean.
Yes, my feminism is based on equality rather than superiority and my feminism is inclusive of all women.
What do you think about the anti-prostitution activism?
I think it’s awful. And very heavily funded. In Ireland, in particularly, it’s been horrendous the stuff they’ve gotten away with in the press. They deliberately conflate child sexual abuse with sex work, they also conflate pornography, drug trafficking cartels with sex work. So they lie on a regular basis.
When do you think sex work will be decriminalized?
I think it’s gonna happen soon, in the next five years maybe. I didn’t originally ever think that it was just a dream. I also think that with more and more sex workers’ rights advocates, like myself, standing up and fighting for our rights (which is something I’ve never thought I’d see) it’s a lot more difficult for the antis to get away with their lies.
Right now Laura is fighting for the recognition of sex workers’ rights in Ireland but unfortunately, unlike the antis, she is not funded. If you care about this fight and want to support and help Laura and her fight, you can do it here with a small or big donation.
