AMARNA MILLER

Copyright June 2018

Madrid, Spain
THE RESPONSIBLE
Twitter: @amarnamiller
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amarna@amarnamiller.com
GUIDE TO TALK
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Yes, you can also use it to make collages and wrap last-minute Christmas gifts.
Of course, it wouldn’t hurt if you quoted the people who participated.
ABOUT SEX WORK
This guide was made thanks to my Patreon users:

www.patreon.com/amarnamiller IN THE MEDIA

 Written by:
INTRODUCTION
THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

INTRODUCTION
Amarna Miller

Corrections and translation:

Noemí Casquet Every second of our life we’re receiving a constant
Claudia S flow of information. Ads on TV, flickering banners
that have learned to get around AdBlock.
Design:
relajaelcoco Product placement in our favorite influencers
social network.
Fotos:
Marta Pawlik Large-scale communication plays an important
Ian Dooley. role in the development of society and it’s
inevitable that our perception isn’t conditioned
Thanks to: by the information we receive.
Valérie May
Shirley McLaren
Natalia Ferrari Unfortunately, prejudices are all over the place
Paula Vip where someone would expect to get information
Blanca
Aprosex without bias.
Hetaira
RedTraSex
Too many times is the media itself who reproduces
and intensifies stereotyped ideas, which doesn’t
This guide has been possible thanks to help the discrimination that oppressed collectives
Patreon users who decided to support the project.
1 Thank you!
already suffer. 2
 Minorities are relegated to have a voice in peripheral
THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

INTRODUCTION
discourses only, and their experiences are lost
in the fog like the possibility of finding their own place
in the mass media.

In other words: Those who don’t stand under the

hegemonic gaze are relegated to oblivion.

Sex work is one of those areas where the weight of

prejudices excludes the narration of objective stories.
Mix a couple of tablespoons of sensationalism with
a pinch of clickbait and we will have the perfect dish
for any interviewer to turn into puppets at the service
of an editorial line that seeks views at any cost.

This guide aims to establish a manual of good practices

to discuss sex work in the media, eliminating
discriminatory discourses and promoting those visions
that take into account the reality of the protagonists of
story from a fair, egalitarian and inclusive perspective;
demonstrating that it’s possible to make interesting,
truthful and responsible articles that also generate
views. Let’s start from the beginning...
3 4
THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

WHAT PREJUDICES DO SEX WORKERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH?

WHAT PREJUDICES
DO SEX WORKERS
HAVE TO DEAL WITH?1

To be accurate when presenting objective

information, first we have to understand what
preconceptions inhabit the popular imagination.

Here we analyze the five most common prejudices

5 that sex workers have to face. 6
 1 2
THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

WHAT PREJUDICES DO SEX WORKERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH?

from their countries of origin, a “The myth about the poor slut
disempowering argument that takes who works in the streets with a pimp
away all the freedom to us women who who counts every penny she earns
EITHER VICTIM OR BOURGEOIS decided to migrate (nobody says that THE MAJORITY OF SEX WORKERS and the one of the women locked
men are abducted from their homes, ARE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS up and forced to have sex without
The eternal binomial. In the eyes but that they venture). And on the their consent, are the most damaging.”
of the media, sex workers are divided other hand, creating a fake image of "The information is there, you just have
into two distinct groups only. 'privileged' to silence those of us who to want to see it." Says a few days ago "The myth about the poor slut who
are visible and fight for our rights." Natalia Ferrari, a 25-year-old woman works in the streets with a pimp who
Either they are deceived victims, who has worked as an independent counts every penny she earns and the
abused and have ended up in this From Hetaira collective, founded 22 prostitute for five years. one of the women locked up and
business against their will; or they years ago by a group of cis and trans forced to have sex without their
embody the perfect rich girl who en- women of the feminist movement, She is talking about the report drafted consent, are the most damaging.
gages in sex work as an act of bourgeois they point out: "Usually sex workers by GRETA (Group of Experts on Action If we stick to data of the UN3, one out
rebellion. The street whore or the are portrayed as absolute victims of the against Trafficking in Human Beings) of seven women are in a situation of
luxury escort. The mistreated porn circumstances, paradoxically in the focused on the fight against human trafficking. The rest of us make our
actress, or the one who becomes rich same articles that talk about the trafficking. living from working on what we have
at the expense of the suffering of policies that criminalize them without chosen, simple as that" says Paula Vip,
others. Hot Girls Wanted vs. The Secret making any kind of critical mention On September 27 of 2013, GRETA director of the Spanish association
Diary of a Call Girl. regarding it. To a lesser degree and presented a text on the application of Aprosex, dedicated to defend the
more movie-like, we have the other the Council of Europe's Convention rights of sex workers.
“Usually sex workers extreme: the image of the glamorous against trafficking in Spain2.
are portrayed as absolute victims prostitute who swims in money. Both The results are extremely critical and "This myth about we all having a pimp
of the circumstances.” dehumanize and don’t talk about the deconstruct many of the preconceived on our back, that we are all being
concrete realities: legal discrimination, ideas that exist around sex work. raped daily, that we are alienated and
Shirley McLaren is a trans Mexican not being able to rent a flat, what don't know what we are saying, that
woman in her thirties, migrant in entails being a migrant, the stigma, Among many other things, they we are drug addicts, alcoholics, that
Spain, graduated in Communication maternity in many cases, the ups and emphasize the importance of not we don't have the capability to raise
and sex worker for eleven years. "This downs of work, strategies of resistance mistaking human trafficking with sex our own children; has came in handy
binarism is dangerous because it or daily life, for example." work and the need to protect the to the abolitionists to keep infantilizing
invisibilizes all the others that don’t victims human rights. the whores and speak on their behalf".
fall on those two shores, which are the
immense majority by the way.", she Another recurring topic mentioned
says. "What causes these stereotypes in the report is the need to separate the
is, on one hand, creating a moral panic concept of human trafficking with
7 about poor women who are abducted forced prostitution. 8
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THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

WHAT PREJUDICES DO SEX WORKERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH?

conditions of its fulfillment are
unworthy because of the lack of regu-
lation and norms that recognize it as a
DELINQUENCY SPOTLIGHT job. We are no criminals, the NYMPHOMANIAC THE BODY FOR SALE
environment of lack of protection, lack
In the eyes of society, crime and sex of legislation and no guarantee of our As in the social imaginary it’s One of the most recurrent arguments
work are inherently linked concepts. rights, "encloses" us in some sectors in incomprehensible that there are when it comes to criticizing sex work
These prejudices feed a biased which many times we are victims of women who actually want to dedicate is the idea of the commercialization
perception of reality. illicit situations. What happens in themselves to sex work, it tends to of the body.
some cases is that because of the pathologize their decision.
“We are surrounded by unfavorable secrecy and marginality to which we However, this paradigm ignores that
conditions that make us constantly are pushed, we are surrounded by “ Sex work is not illegal or unworthy, the commercialized good is the
face dangerous or illicit situations.” unfavorable conditions that make us but the conditions of its fulfillment strength of labor, not the body of the
constantly face dangerous or illicit are unworthy because of the lack protagonists. In the same way that
"When a politician says 'I'm going situations". of regulation and norms that a salesgirl doesn’t sell her hands for
to work to strengthen security in the recognize it as a job.” folding clothes, the sex worker isn’t
country' they always talk about drugs selling her genitals.
and prostitution. As if sex work was Like that it’s assumed that they are
related to crime. In the end, they addicted to sex, people of insatiable So we can affirm that the goods sold
reinforce a myth created by igno- sex drive who ended up in this are the hours in which the worker
rance," says Elena Reynaga, founding business to satisfy their fantasies. offers a service, in this case of
member and current executive a sexual nature.
secretary of the Network of Sex "People imagine sex worker as if they
Workers of Latin America and the were 'man-eaters', without realizing
Caribbean, which has been fighting that maybe in her personal life she can
since 1997 for the defense and promo- be a lesbian! Your privacy doesn’t have
tion of human rights of this sector. to have anything to do with your work.
Sometimes they forget that before
This same organization published seven being a sex worker, it’s a person who
years ago, a guide for the journalistic dreams and feels like anyone else",
approach to sex work and sex workers Elena points out.
and has become an absolute reference4.

As mentioned in the guide, "it’s always

necessary to remark that sex work is
9 not illegal or unworthy, but the 10
 RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN TALKING ABOUT SEX WORK
THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

RECOMMENDATIONS
WHEN TALKING
ABOUT SEX WORK

Now that we have understood the main stigmas,

stereotypes and prejudices that go through
sex work, we will present eight suggestions to
take into account when dealing with news
related to the sector from an ethical and responsi-
11 ble perspective. 12
 1 2 3

RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN TALKING ABOUT SEX WORK

THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

possible to discuss a topic without

having the protagonists in mind? Some
classic mistakes are using the
PERSONAL DECONSTRUCTION OF SEARCH FOR RELIABLE expression "white slave trade" to talk GIVE VOICE TO THE
THE JOURNALIST INFORMATION AND CONTRAST about the victims of forced sexual PROTAGONISTS EXPERIENCES
SOURCES exploitation, to suggest that
As a transmitting agent of information, prostitution is neither legal or illegal We are used to the media echoing
it’s the responsibility of the journalist More media than expected copy data in Spain, differentiating between free almost exclusively the negative
to be in a constant process of published in other articles without whores (those who enjoy) and victim circumstances and situations related to
deconstruction. checking the sources that support whores (those who do it for money), the sector (deaths of sex workers,
them. when we all are hard workers doing it abuses, problems ...), but they hardly
This will avoid impregnating the work for money and whether we enjoy it or mention any first-person experiences
with personal values, focusing on The result is texts full of incorrect not, is irrelevant. Also calling us that don’t have a stigmatizing burden.
offering objective information. terminology and fake numbers regulators when we are pro rights."
without a credible source. When talking about sex workers who
“There’s a lot of disinformation, “The discourse that prostitutes defend their work or have a positive
dogmas and an irresponsible way of Recurring errors are transformed into are bodies for sale to the use and abuse perspective of it, they are treated as
handling information that’s false.” realities in the eyes of the population of the man who pays, "exceptions", often using pejorative
by the mere fact of being repeated not only makes us invisible arguments towards their colleagues
The representation of sex work again and again in articles, news but puts us in danger, ("the prostitute who writes well", "the
in popular culture (shows, films, and interviews. Instead, objective implying that this is the work porn actress that quotes Nietzsche").
literature ...) has created an image that information must be promoted, of a prostitute.”
in many cases isn’t true. without falling into sensationalism or "It’s necessary to empower
superfluous data. the protagonists so that
So that these stereotypes that we have their voices are heard,
internalized are not transmitted to our "There’s a lot of disinformation, the whores don’t need
work, I think it would be interesting dogmas and an irresponsible way of guardianship.”
to invite the journalist to question handling information that’s false”,
whether the work he is doing is biased Natalia tells me. "One of the things When dealing with sex work related
by his ideals and beliefs as an that motivated me the most to stand topics, it’s necessary to highlight the
individual or if it’s a reliable represen- up and give interviews was realizing testimonies of those involved with a
tation of reality. that the popular portrait in the media perspective of gender, with special
had nothing to do with my experience emphasis on showing the point of view
and that the representation they were of trans women, migrants, racialized
making of my profession didn’t even and belonging to groups historically
13 have the voice of prostitutes. How is it excluded from hegemonic discourses. 14
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RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN TALKING ABOUT SEX WORK

THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

"The arguments we sex workers give what they need? They use their migrants, can find themselves at the
are reduced to nothing privileges to express their opinion moment of accessing the non-sexual
because the image created about our work without us, but what labor market. I always got the
over decades is stronger than they should do is help us out". impression that the intentionality of AVOID HIERARCHIES
our message.” this type of reportage isn’t to change
"When we talk about trans sex work a narrative, but to reaffirm more the A good amount of the words used to
"The arguments we sex workers give it’s assumed that it’s a person without belief that many people have that trans refer to sex workers include a terrible
are reduced to nothing because the academic preparation and that if she are something that you don’t really burden at a social level.
image created over decades is stronger wasn’t very normative, she couldn’t want to know or have close."
than our message. Society still doesn’t even work as a cashier", says Blanca, "Whore" or "sex servant" are examples
accept that sex workers can be who has been working in prostitution of denominations that carry a clear
intelligent, educated, independent, for five years. "Many point at my stigma, while when we speak of "porn
sexually liberated and feminist”, says culture and intelligence in a surprising actress", "escort" or "luxury prostitute"
Valérie May, a 29-year-old woman way. They assume that I’m a poorly there seems to be almost a certain
who has been working in independent prepared woman who comes from glamour in the social perception of
prostitution for just over a year. an unstructured environment." their definitions.

"I would like the media to stop giving “We are able to analyse sexuality "You have to be careful when using the
space to academic abolitionists or and masculinity within our work term ‘escort’", Valérie tells me.
people who neither have nor have had from a feminist perspective. "It shouldn’t be used to differentiate
a direct relationship with Can you imagine cis scholars social positions or to create a hierarchy
prostitution", says Natalia Ferrari. talking about the problems within sex work itself."
the trans community is facing
"It’s necessary to empower the as if trans women were unable to talk “We are used to the media
protagonists so that their voices are about what they have to deal with and echoing almost exclusively
heard, the whores don’t need ask for what they need?.” the negative circumstances
guardianship. The same applies to any and situations related
journalist who thinks has a say on how "Actually, the media rarely refers to to the sector .”
the relationships with our clients are. trans women when they talk about sex
We are able to analyse sexuality and work," says Shirley. "The interviews Although there is a part within pro sex
masculinity within our work from a with trans women are about what it’s feminism that proposes the use
feminist perspective. Can you imagine gained in one night, the services they of some of these historically pejorative
cis scholars talking about the problems provide and any other situation that words in order to assign them a new
the trans community is facing as if may be morbid without getting deeper meaning (in the same way that the
trans women were unable to talk about in the structural situation that trans LGTBI community reclaimed the use of
15 what they have to deal with and ask for women, especially if they are "faggot" or "dyke"), it’s always 16
 5 6

RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN TALKING ABOUT SEX WORK

THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

necessary to ask the sex worker about even when the interview is to whores
who is being talked to, in what way who claim to be visible”, says Natalia.
she prefers to be named.
DON’T USE GRAPHIC MATERIAL In the same way, personal information ERASE PATERNALISTIC
“It’s unnecessary to illustrate THAT FEEDS PREJUDICES of the workers should not be published DISCOURSES
the articles with stolen photos AND RESPECT THE RIGHT under any circumstances without their
from coworkers in the street or stock TO PRIVACY OF SEX WORKERS consent (their real name, for example), The perception of sex workers as vic-
pictures of women with heels even if other media have leaked this tims who need help encourages the use
and miniskirts, always without faces; It’s common for the media to allow information in the past. This is a work of expressions that oppress their iden-
even when the interview themselves publishing images of sex on which many prejudices still weigh tity as individuals, such as "women in
is to whores who claim to be visible.” workers without their consent. and for security reasons the right to prostitution situation".
privacy of the protagonists must
“In general, unless I say it, the most As a rule with no exceptions, always be respected. "They talk about us as if we were
accurate thing for a journalist to say ask about if they are willing to be things while it’s denounced
would be sex worker”, says Natalia. filmed or photographed. In the case "It may happen that because of stigma, that prostitution materialize us.”
"The purpose of this terminology is to of interviews, the media has to commit discrimination and prejudice; some of
make clear that we are working to use the photographs that have sent us don’t tell our families or in our "They talk about us as if we were things
women, not differentiate between themselves and avoid getting graphic neighborhood that we are sex workers while it’s denounced that prostitution
other sectors. There is a social material from the internet. For exam- and carry out our work far away from materialize us. The discourse that
hierarchy where it seems that being ple, taking screenshots of porn scenes our spaces of belonging so that there prostitutes are bodies for sale to the
a porn actress is better than being or pictures from other interviews. is no reprisal of any kind towards us or use and abuse of the man who pays,
a prostitute, and this only serves our families", we can read in the not only makes us invisible but puts
to encourage prejudice. We are in dif- “There is a social RedTraSex guide4. us in danger, implying that this is the
ferent sectors, but all of us are working hierarchy where it seems that being work of a prostitute”, Natalia tells me.
women with the same stigma." a porn actress is better than being
a prostitute, and this only serves "It doesn’t matter how I say that I’m
to encourage prejudice. doing good, I feel like they want to
We are in different sectors, rescue me" says Valérie. "Also,
but all of us are working women I constantly face the idea that this
with the same stigma.” really isn’t something serious to
do in life."
"It’s unnecessary to illustrate the
articles with stolen photos from
coworkers in the street or stock
pictures of women with heels and
17 miniskirts, always without faces; 18
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RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN TALKING ABOUT SEX WORK

THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

According to its figures, "about one out Rights Watch, UNAIDS, the UN Special
of seven [prostitutes] would be a Rapporteur on the right to health and
trafficking victim." This makes up 14 the World Health Organization....
DON’T CONFUSE TRAFFICKING, percent of prostitution in Europe, WHEN IN DOUBT,
EXPLOITATION AND SEX WORK a number that nothing has to do with ASK ORGANIZATIONS
those normally handled in the media. OF SEX WORKERS
"Mixing prostitution with trafficking is Of the total of
a very serious mistake", adds Natalia. "Mixing prostitution with trafficking 20.9 million forced laborers: There is a wide variety of organizations
"Not only for whores, but also for is a very serious mistake." that defend sex workers rights.
the trafficking victims themselves,
as GRETA states." Amnesty International published in 2.2 millions (10%) Contacting these associations is the
May 2016 nothing more and nothing Forced to work in jobs imposed by the State. easiest way to obtain up-to-date and
Prisons, rebel armed forces...
GRETA's report2 isn’t the only one that less than four reports of research on objective information.
supports these claims. human rights violations suffered by sex
workers6. They focused on Norway, Among others:
The International Labor Organization5 Argentina, Hong Kong and Papua 10%
has also insisted on pointing out that New Guinea. ·Colectivo Hetaira8
the majority of trafficking victims are ·Aprosex9 (Asociación de profesionales
18,7 millions (90%)
actually exploited in the Its results are enlightening: punitive Exploited in the private economy. del sexo)
private economy. regulations of sex work must be ·RedTraSex10 (Red de trabajadoras
removed "with consent among adults sexuales de Lationamérica y el Caribe)
22%
Specifically, "of the total of 20.9 since they reinforce marginalization, ·Ammar11 (Asociación de Mujeres
million forced laborers, 18.7 million (90 stigma, discrimination and can deny Meretrices de la Argentina)
percent) are exploited in the private people who engage in sex work access ·APAC12 (Adult Performer Advocacy
economy by individuals or companies. to justice under the protection Committee)
90%
Of the latter, 4.5 million (22 percent) of the law"7. 68% ·SWOP- USA13 (Sex Workers Outreach
are victims of forced sexual Project US)
exploitation, and 14.2 million By the way, it’s worth mentioning that
(68 percent) are victims of forced labor Amnesty International is part of a large
exploitation in economic activities group of organizations that support or
4,5 millions (22 %)
such as agriculture, construction, demand the decriminalization of sex Victims of forced sexual exploitation.
domestic work or the manufacture ". work with consent.
14,2 millions (68%)
The UN also has a report about it3 These include the Global Alliance Victims of forced labor exploitation
(agriculture, domestic work...)
entitled Trafficking of people to Europe Against Traffic in Women, the Global
19 for sexual exploitation. Commission on HIV and Law, Human 20
 CONCLUSION The Fourth Estate is a powerful weapon at

CONCLUSION
THE RESPONSIBLE GUIDE TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORK IN THE MEDIA

the service of the people. It molds our knowledge

and helps to shape our discernment.
It’s part of the journalistic ethic to offer truthful
and objective information that’s close to reality, For an intersectional and committed journalism,
so that the recipients of the message can carve out let’s learn how to talk responsibly about sex work
their own conclusions. in the media.

But in addition, if the topic talked about includes

a stigmatized group, this maxim will support them
to recover a position of authority that will help
them emerge from marginality.
REFERENCES
1: This text has been written using most of the time feminine pronouns in a generalist way since the stigmas and prejudices that
Yes, knowledge empowers. surround sex work are accentuated when it comes to women. However, this has been a decision taken by the author and the tips
and suggestions mentioned here can and should be applied to all genres that exist.
2: GRETA (Group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings) Report concerning the implementation of the council of
Europe Convention on action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Spain, Strasbourg, 2013,
www.colectivohetaira.org/informe-greta
The lack of objective information about sex work 3: UNODC, Extracto de The Globalization of Crime — A Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment, Viena, 2010
www.unodc.org/documents/publications/TiP_Europe_ES_LORES.pdf?fref=gc

has filled with stereotypes the perception of this 4: RedTraSex (Red de trabajadoras sexuales de Lationamérica y el Caribe), Guía para el abordaje periodístico del trabajo sexual y las
trabajadoras sexuales, 2014, www.redtrasex.org/IMG/pdf/guia_periodistas_redtrasex.pdf

business for many years.

5: ILO, Special Action Programme to combat Forced Labour (SAP-FL), Ginebra, 2013
www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@declaration/documents/publication/wcms_182010.pdf
6: Amnesty International, Papua New Guinea: outlawed and abused: Criminalizing sex work in Papua New Guinea,
Papua New Guinea, 2016
Amnesty International, China: Harmfully isolated: Criminalizing sex work in Hong Kong, China, 2016

Finally the time has come to position ourselves as

Amnesty International, “Lo que hago no es un delito” El coste humano de penalizar el trabajo sexual en la ciudad de Buenos Aires,
Argentina, 2016
Amnesty International, Norway: The human cost of crushing the market. Criminalization of sex work in Norway, Noruega, 2016
allies of those who haven’t had a strong, powerfull 7: Amnesty International, Política de Amnistía Internacional sobre la obligación del estado de respetar, proteger y realizar los derechos
humanos de las personas dedicadas al trabajo sexual, 2016, www.es.amnesty.org/en-que-estamos/noticias/noticia/articu-

voice in their own battle so we can start lo/graves-violaciones-de-derechos-humanos-sufridas-por-trabajadoras-y-trabajadores-sexuales-en-el-mundo

8: Colectivo Hetaira www.colectivohetaira.org
9: Aprosex www.aprosex.org
to perceive this work from the perspective of 10: RedTraSex www.redtrasex.org
11: Ammar www.ammar.org.ar

21 its protagonists. 12: APAC www.apac-usa.com

13: SWOP- USA www.new.swopusa.org 22