TricksTreats on Sex Worker Safety
Make Your Boundaries Known
It’s no secret that many sex workers have felt pressured during their career into situations they may not have been entirely comfortable with. And while this may seem to apply to those who sell in-person experiences, those who do work through clip sites can also end up feeling coaxed into uncomfortable scenarios. This is a brief guide on setting boundaries for yourself and your clients to make it clear what you are uncomfortable with.
Be clear about what you will and will not do. The best way to make sure a client won’t cross your boundaries is by making it clear what your boundaries are. If you sell custom content, give a guideline on what scenes or actions you are willing to perform, and what is not acceptable to request. If there are words you do not want used in comments on your content, make it clear what they are. You always have the option to reject a custom video request – and you don’t need to explain or justify why. It’s your right to do what feels comfortable to you only. And if someone’s request was abusive or disrespectful, you can report it as such and their profile will be examined.
Try to work with those you know well and feel comfortable with when possible. If you choose to film with strangers or studios you don’t know well, do some background research into them. Ask around with those who have worked with them in the past. Many people who have backgrounds of abusive behavior towards sex workers have their actions well documented with some digging; try to find out what you can before filming. Again – you aren’t a bad person for refusing to work with someone you suspect will pressure you to do something.
Be Mindful of Your Privacy
Keep yourself private. This doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t show your face or talk about your life – but you shouldn’t give out your location if possible. Many make the mistake of not completely privatizing their sex work social media, and as a result, followers can find out where you live. Double check any accounts you have, including Amazon wishlists, to make sure your location or personal contacts are not public.
Block off windows or other location markers when filming. You would be surprised at how easy it can be to find someone’s location with just a little glimpse of their background! This doesn’t mean you have to completely omit natural light, but be sure that nearby homes, landmarks, or other distinguishing features are not visible to your audience.
In summary – keep your location hidden on social media and while filming, film with those who are trustworthy and reliable, and don’t feel pressured to take requests either because of financial reasons or because you don’t want to be ‘rude’ by denying them. You are doing others a favor by showing this part of you; you don’t owe anyone anything.
This article was written for us by TricksTreats, if you’d like to contribute to the AP Lounge, please get in touch via email.