Playing the Whore Summary

"Whore isn’t an insult; it’s a job." This book asks society to rethink its harmful perceptions and laws about sex work.

1. Police Often Pose Greater Risks to Sex Workers Than Clients

Many assume the police protect everyone equally, but for sex workers, this is far from the truth. Instead of safeguarding their safety, police often increase their risk of harm.

A 2003 survey by the Sex Worker’s Project in New York City revealed that over two-thirds of sex workers faced daily harassment from the police. Thirty percent reported receiving violent threats from officers themselves, leaving them with little trust in law enforcement. When these workers face violence from clients, many no longer bother to call for help because their cries are ignored.

Beyond ignoring requests for help, police officers have also directly inflicted violence upon sex workers. A 2005 study revealed that 14% of sex workers in New York were victims of police violence. Even more disturbingly, 16% shared that officers had made sexual advances or propositions towards them, blurring the lines of protection and exploitation.

Examples

• A gang-rape victim in New York reported that police dismissed her case because of her employment as a prostitute.
• In West Bengal, a study found the majority of violence against sex workers came from the police, not clients.
• New York City police have ignored emergency calls from sex workers, fostering an environment of fear and isolation.

2. The 1970s Brought Hope and Visibility for Prostitutes

The 1970s marked a dramatic shift in discussions around sex work, thanks in part to the sexual liberation movement. This era gave sex workers a louder voice and more authentic representation in culture and activism.

Pop culture began portraying prostitutes in a new light. Jane Fonda’s Oscar-winning role in "Klute" showcased an empowered, independent call girl, challenging stereotypes. Around the same time, the book "The Happy Hooker" topped best-seller lists, introducing readers to the idea that sex workers could lead fulfilling lives. These cultural shifts paved the way for organizing and activism.

Prostitutes themselves became advocates for their rights. In the United States, Margo St. James founded COYOTE, the first group to fight for prostitution rights. Across the Atlantic, French prostitutes staged a protest in a church to address unfair prison sentences. These bold actions marked a turning point in making sex workers visible and heard.

Examples

• The creation of COYOTE in 1973 provided a US platform for sex worker rights.
• French protesters pushed against harsh punishments through a church sit-in.
• Leaders like Margo St. James brought attention to the needs of sex workers.

3. Excluding Sex Workers From Laws and Debates Harms Them

Sex workers’ voices are rarely considered when discussing their lives, leading to laws and debates that often worsen their working conditions. Policymakers and activists regularly override their input.

Anti-prostitution laws, such as Sweden's 1999 ban on buying sex, are often celebrated as feminist victories. However, sex workers themselves see these laws as dangerous. Shifting the illegality to clients, while intended to protect workers, resulted in fewer clients and riskier encounters. Sex workers now face rushed decisions about whom they trust, making their work less safe.

Instead of hearing from sex workers, politicians and activists impose their own agendas. For instance, sociologist Kathleen Barry dismissed input from Margo St. James, a sex workers' rights advocate, claiming that sex workers were biased and unable to assess their own reality objectively. This showcases the failure to involve the most important voices in these conversations.

Examples

• Sweden's law criminalizing clients made sex encounters more dangerous for workers.
• Kathleen Barry rejected sex workers' input at a major human trafficking conference.
• Sex workers in Lyon were never consulted when harsher penalties were proposed.

4. Criminalization Breeds Hypocrisy and Danger in Sex Work

Making sex work illegal not only marginalizes workers but creates dangerous and contradictory practices that put their lives at greater risk. On paper, laws claim to protect workers, but in practice, they perpetuate harm.

Escort agencies, for example, often force their workers to sign contracts stating they will not engage in sex. This protects agencies from legal liability but leaves workers to handle unsafe situations alone. Should a problem arise during an encounter, agencies shirk responsibility and offer no protective training or support.

Police have also adopted harmful strategies, such as using condoms as evidence of prostitution. This policy, active as of 2012 in cities like San Francisco and New York, discourages condom use and increases vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases. Policies like these put women in precarious situations where protecting themselves could implicate them legally.

Examples

• Escort agencies prioritize legality over worker safety, offering no training for risk management.
• Washington and San Francisco police used condom possession to arrest women suspected of prostitution.
• Criminalized systems leave sex workers without workplace protections or benefits.

5. Society Wants Prostitution to Stay Out of Sight

Society’s discomfort with visible sexuality often outweighs concern for the safety and rights of sex workers. Rather than ensuring better protections, many efforts focus on pushing prostitution further out of the public eye.

Equality Now once petitioned The Village Voice to remove escort ads featuring nude women. The compromise? Showing clothed headshots instead. But workers, who often prioritize anonymity, found this demand harmed their ability to advertise. Clients, meanwhile, often prefer visually explicit promotions and were less likely to engage with these sanitized ads.

Attempts to ban sex ads have been struck down in the courts, showing both the tension surrounding moral policing and the legal acknowledgement of sex workers’ rights. Bans proposed in Washington and Tennessee were dismissed because of their overly broad language, leaving room for lawful advertising to continue.

Examples

• The Village Voice required escort ads to feature headshots rather than bodies.
• Washington DC proposed but failed to enact sweeping restrictions on sex advertisements.
• Tennessee's anti-advertising bill would have unjustly curtailed free speech rights.

6. Slut Shaming and Moral Judgment Harm All Women

Society's treatment of sex workers is tied to its broader judgments about women's sexuality. The enduring “whore” stigma fuels victim-blaming and oppresses women across the spectrum.

Consider how rape victims have been historically blamed for their attire or behavior. A Toronto police officer once suggested that women should dress less provocatively to avoid being attacked. This kind of rhetoric reinforces the old-fashioned idea that sexually confident women are inherently immoral.

Movements like SlutWalk have fought back against these ideas. Drawing attention to the harmful stereotyping of women, SlutWalks advocate for respect, regardless of clothing or sexual history. Still, many women themselves reinforce harmful stereotypes, dividing each other into categories of purity or promiscuity.

Examples

• SlutWalk mobilized against a Toronto officer’s victim-blaming remarks.
• Cultural attitudes suggest "sexy" women deserve misconduct or violence.
• Women sometimes unknowingly perpetuate slut-shaming against others.

7. Many Sex Workers Are Independent and Empowered

Contrary to stereotypes of victimization and coercion, many sex workers exercise control over their professions and derive significant independence from their work.

For instance, BDSM professionals often maintain ultimate authority over client terms and interactions. In some environments, clients willingly submit to rules and are even assigned chores by their dominatrix, reversing traditional power dynamics. These setups offer confidence rather than victimization.

Additionally, entrepreneurial workers demonstrate creativity and agency. One sex worker built a successful online platform for producing and selling her own adult content. Using forums, she collaborates with others and expands her operations, proving that this career can also represent liberation and choice.

Examples

• BDSM professionals dictate boundaries and command workplace authority.
• Clients perform chores under the instruction of empowered dominatrix figures.
• Independent content creators from the industry run profitable, self-owned businesses.

Takeaways

1. In conversations about prostitution or sex work, involve sex workers themselves—they are the true experts of their lived experience.
2. Rethink societal judgments about sexuality and its double standards for men and women, fostering open and shame-free dialogue.
3. Support legislative changes that decriminalize sex work while ensuring safe conditions, equitable rights, and proper healthcare for workers.