Sex Work and Adult Industry
B
Brothel
A brothel is an establishment where people can engage in sexual activities with sex workers in exchange for payment. These venues, also known as bordellos or houses of prostitution, typically employ multiple sex workers and may offer various sexual services. Brothels can range from small, discreet locations to large, elaborate facilities depending on local laws and cultural norms.
Burlesque Dancer
A burlesque dancer is a performer who engages in a theatrical entertainment style that combines elements of comedy, music, and striptease. Unlike traditional strippers, burlesque dancers typically focus more on the tease and artistry of their performance, often incorporating elaborate costumes, props, and choreography. The act of removing clothing is usually done in a playful, tantalizing manner, emphasizing the anticipation rather than full nudity.
E
Erotic Masseuse
An erotic masseuse is a professional who provides massage services with the intention of sexual arousal or gratification. Unlike traditional massage therapists, erotic masseuses typically offer services that include genital stimulation or other sexual activities. These services are often referred to as "happy endings" or "full-service" massages.
Erotic Writer
An erotic writer is an author who specializes in creating written content with sexually explicit or suggestive themes. These writers craft stories, novels, poems, or other literary works that are intended to arouse sexual desire in readers. Erotic writing can range from mildly suggestive romance to highly explicit descriptions of sexual acts, depending on the writer's style and target audience.
Escort
An escort is a person who provides companionship, and often sexual services, in exchange for payment. Escorts typically offer their time and company for various activities, which may include attending social events, engaging in conversation, or participating in intimate encounters. Unlike street-based sex workers, escorts often operate through agencies or independently, and their services are generally more discreet and expensive.
Exotic Dancer
An exotic dancer, also known as a stripper or adult entertainer, is a performer who engages in erotic dance routines, often involving the removal of clothing, for an audience. These professionals typically work in strip clubs, adult entertainment venues, or at private events, providing sensual entertainment through dance, striptease, and sometimes more intimate interactions with clients.
F
Fetish Model
A fetish model is a person who poses for photographs, videos, or live performances that cater to specific sexual interests or fetishes. These models often specialize in particular niches, such as feet, latex, bondage, or other fetishistic themes. Fetish models may work in various settings, including professional studios, independent online platforms, or live events.
FOSTA-SESTA
FOSTA-SESTA refers to two pieces of U.S. legislation: the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA). Enacted in 2018, these laws were designed to combat online sex trafficking by making it easier to prosecute websites that knowingly facilitate or promote prostitution and sex trafficking.
P
Peep Show Worker
A peep show worker is an adult entertainment professional who performs erotic acts or displays their body for customers in a private booth or small room. Typically, the customer views the performer through a window or screen, often inserting coins or bills to open a shutter or extend viewing time. Peep show workers may dance, strip, or engage in solo sexual activities, but usually do not have physical contact with customers.
Phone Sex Operator
A phone sex operator is a professional who provides sexual entertainment and arousal to clients over the telephone. These individuals engage in explicit conversations, role-playing scenarios, and verbal descriptions of sexual acts to stimulate and satisfy their customers. Phone sex operators typically work from home or call centers, using their voice and imagination to create intimate experiences for their clients.
Porn Actor/Actress
A porn actor or actress, also known as an adult performer, is a professional who appears in pornographic films, videos, or live shows, engaging in explicit sexual activities for the purpose of adult entertainment. These individuals perform various sexual acts on camera, which may include intercourse, oral sex, and other forms of sexual expression, often following a script or general scenario.
Pornography
Pornography, often referred to as "porn," is any material (such as videos, images, or writing) that explicitly depicts sexual subjects or activity with the primary intention of sexual arousal. It typically involves the portrayal of nudity and sexual acts, ranging from solo performances to partnered sexual activities.
Prostitution Laws
Prostitution laws refer to the legal regulations and statutes governing the practice of exchanging sexual services for money or other forms of compensation. These laws vary widely across different countries and jurisdictions, ranging from full criminalization to legalization and regulation. Prostitution laws typically address various aspects of sex work, including the act of selling sexual services, buying sexual services, operating brothels, and related activities such as solicitation or pimping.
S
Safe Call
A safe call is a prearranged check-in system used to ensure the safety of individuals engaging in potentially risky situations, particularly in the context of sex work or meeting new partners. It involves contacting a trusted friend or colleague at specific times to confirm one's well-being and location.
Safecall
A safecall is a prearranged communication method used to enhance personal safety, particularly in situations involving sex work, BDSM encounters, or meetings with new partners. It typically involves contacting a trusted friend or colleague at specific times to confirm one's well-being. If the call is missed or a distress signal is given, the trusted person knows to take action, such as contacting authorities.
Sex Work
Sex work refers to the exchange of sexual services, performances, or products for financial compensation. It encompasses a wide range of activities in the adult industry, including prostitution, escorting, exotic dancing, pornography, webcam modeling, phone sex operation, and more. Sex work is a consensual transaction between adults, although it remains stigmatized and criminalized in many parts of the world.
Stripper
A stripper, also known as an exotic dancer or adult entertainer, is a performer who removes clothing in a sexually suggestive manner for an audience. Strippers typically work in strip clubs, at private events, or in other adult entertainment venues. Their performances often involve dancing, acrobatics, and audience interaction.
Sugar Baby
A sugar baby is typically a younger individual who enters into a relationship with an older, wealthier partner (often called a sugar daddy or sugar momma) in exchange for financial support, gifts, or other benefits. This arrangement is often characterized by companionship, intimacy, and sometimes sexual activities, though the specific terms can vary widely between individuals.