Types of Sex Work
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Brothel
A brothel is an establishment where people can pay for sexual services, typically involving sexual acts or companionship with sex workers. While illegal in many countries, brothels operate legally in some regions under regulated conditions designed to protect both workers and clients.
Burlesque Dancer
A burlesque dancer is a performer who engages in a theatrical, often sensual art form that combines elements of striptease, comedy, dance, and storytelling, typically emphasizing the tease aspect rather than full nudity. While historically rooted in Victorian-era entertainment, modern burlesque celebrates body positivity and artistic expression through elaborate costumes, choreography, and theatrical performances that playfully blur the lines between sexuality and satire.
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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.
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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.
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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.