Planet Sex Started Good Conversations But Missed an Important One About Sex Work

Photo by Darya Sannikova:

Yesterday I watched the documentary Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne on Hulu in its entirety. For the most part, it was sex positive and well done. I had a few moments where I didn’t agree with the way certain points were presented but that’s to be expected with anything–we are never going to agree with everything someone else thinks. I was surprised when I got to the end however and nothing had been mentioned about sex work

Episode four of this documentary is titled Pornucopia and would have been the perfect opportunity to bring sex work into the conversation if they were afraid to do an entire episode about it, though let’s be honest, a full 45 minutes could have been filmed about it with no issue.

The episode discusses how pornography can be problematic, but does a good job of showing the viewer how certain corners of the industry are working to change that–showcasing people like filmmaker Erika Lust, who creates ethical films that aren’t coming from the traditional cis, white, male gaze. Each film is accompanied by footage of the consent meetings (yes, they have those!), where the performers sit down before shoots and talk about what they do and don’t like, what turns them on, and what will bring them to orgasm. Because yes, porn performers should experience pleasure, too.

And yes, they are a kind of sex worker, but those words are never uttered during this episode. I appreciate the comment by Erika Lust concerning support for performers. She says what we all in the sex work industry (and porn industry) have been saying for years. Pay for your porn. Follow your favorite creators on their social media and other platforms. Listen to what they have to say about which companies are treating them properly.

How Could Planet Sex Have Discussed Sex Work?

This documentary went all over the world to talk about sex, so it makes sense to me they could easily have traveled to places where sex work is legal. Even here in the United States, in parts of Nevada, there are brothels where it’s legal, though don’t get me started on my thoughts on how the government needs to get their sticky fingers out of that.

Since the pandemic began, scores of people have started accounts on sites like OnlyFans and SextPanther where they publish their own adult content and share it across social media, marketing themselves as adult content creators. It’s sex work and porn wrapped up in one in a way. Not what you think of as traditional sex work? That’s okay, it doesn’t have to look like one thing because it isn’t a monolith.

Sex work encompasses a variety of things. Adult fan sites, cam models, Professional domming, financial domming, professional submissives, pornography actors, and more. Anyone who creates content for the sexual gratification of others can be considered a sex worker.

So why would the creators of this documentary seem to intentionally avoid discussing sex work altogether? Why not use this huge platform to have this important conversation that’s been at the heart of so many discussions across headlines everywhere lately? Were they afraid of backlash?

As a sex worker I’m always concerned about being outed to my community. It’s one of the reasons I use a pseudonym. I’ve been outed before and had it used against me in a custody case years ago, and that was only rumors and photographs, no real evidence. Had my ex-husband been granted any real proof of my sex work I could have lost a lot more.

Where I live, sex work isn’t completely illegal, depending on what you do. I can create adult content the way I currently do–I’m an online content creator, I have an OnlyFans account (and I publish content on other adult fan sites), I sext with clients on SextPanther, I video chat at times, clients send me money for findom purposes. I haven’t met a client in person recently, but it is something I offer under the helm of my ProDomme services. I don’t have sex with my clients, I’m no longer a full-service sex worker (FSSW) but I have been in the past.

There are ways around the solicitation laws, that’s why most sex workers refer to themselves as escorts. They aren’t encouraging clients to solicit them for sex. What happens between two consenting adults is between them–the client is paying for their time, period.

These are all topics Planet Sex could have brought up with real world sex workers in their documentary. For discretion purposes, they could have offered to hide their real identities as they did the owners of the sexual wellness company, Mauj. There are plenty of sex workers who would have been happy to talk to journalists willing to allow us to tell our stories.

If Cara Delevingne or the producers of Planet Sex would like to add to their documentary or if anyone else has one in the pipeline and want to interview real world sex workers and tell our stories, I’m right here–ready and willing to openly speak about my experiences as a sex worker, a woman, and a parent who has dealt with the stigma surrounding sex work. And I’m sure there are thousands more standing in the wings ready to tell their stories, too.

If you’d like to hire me to speak at an engagement or for intimacy/relationship coaching, my contact details can be found here.

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