"The Oldest Profession"

THIS EPISODE CONTAINS REAL-LIFE DESCRIPTIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Publication date of this episode (June 2, 2021) marks International Sex Workers' Day. For more information on the human rights issues facing sex workers visit Sex Workers Outreach Project, USA.*

Retired full-service Sex Worker Betty James (pseudonym) shares her story of five years as a successful and highly sought-out escort. Our candid discussion covers James' own motivations for entering the profession, as well as questions many are afraid to publicly ask due to the burden of stigmatization placed on sex work. James articulately breaks down everything from the nuanced issue of consent to her views on decriminalization. In between, there is levity and laughs, and even some salacious bits, as the interview aims to make transparent a service labor that is both ancient and ubiquitous, yet often shrouded in repressive societal moral codes.

This episode uses the song "A1 Rogue" by Podington Bear, under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.

*"Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of people involved in the sex trade and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy."