(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
In the memoir Whore of New York: A Confession tells the 29-year-old American sex worker, activist and now author Liara Roux her life story about how she ended up as a sex worker in New York.
In the first part of the book, we follow her from childhood until she begins her very first relationship with a woman (named Anna). In the second and last part of the book, we get an insight into her everyday life as a sex worker.
Roux sets the tone for the book with the opening paragraph: "I have been asked many times: When did you first think of starting sex work? I remember lying in bed quite young and praying to God: Please, let me never stop believing in you. Otherwise I will use a lot of drugs, convert to communism and become a prostitute."
Born in the 90s
As a child, Liara Roux identified as autistic, with special interests such as snakes and chatting with strangers online. But perhaps most of us who were born in the 90s did? The first part of the book attempts to give the reader an understanding of why she became who she is today – what choices and coincidences led her to where she is now. I am curious as to why such a young and promising girl chooses the sex industry. I read on.
We learn that she is the best in the class until she drops out of high school because she is simply bored. The teachers don't give her enough challenges. Eventually she moves to San Francisco and begins a romantic and toxic relationship with Anna, who is almost ten years older than her. And despite the fact that Anna is violent and manipulative, she marries her.
Occupation: prostitute
After working in the technology industry, which she did not like at all, she chooses to become a prostitute, out of her own interest and curiosity. She describes herself as a "first class pampered pet with a diet full of Michelin stars, who flies around the world in cashmere and silk, in private jets and cars".
Her job is like any other job, where the work itself is rarely the most interesting thing (according to her). What interests her, however, are the politics surrounding the job, the relationship with her colleagues and how her anxiety changes during her time as a sex worker.
A pet that flies around the world in cashmere and silk, in private jets and cars.
Because even though she likes her job, that doesn't mean she doesn't experience anxiety and fear every now and then. She describes how she had nightmares for several months after an incident where a customer tightened a belt around her neck. "I became acutely aware of how vulnerable I was," she admits.
We learn about everything from how she travels the world in private jets, takes pilates classes and spends time at the spa to how she gets tested for sexually transmitted diseases every three months and takes HIV prevention medication.
But why does she continue in the profession? I ask myself. I think the answer lies in her view of work in general. She is of the opinion that many people only work to make money, regardless of their profession. So why not make money from sex when she still likes it?
It is clear that sex sells
The sex industry has grown bigger in recent years. We see sex everywhere. Social media and influencers are partly to blame for this. It is clear that sex sells. If you take a picture of yourself in revealing clothes, you will get more followers on Instagram. That's just how it is.
Sex is glorified. It may seem that some choose to enter the sex industry, either as sex workers or porn stars, out of pure curiosity. Some choose to study law, and others choose sex work. It seems that it has become less taboo to choose the sex industry. You don't have to come from poor circumstances to make this choice. Many porn stars and sex workers even call themselves feminists. Among other things, we have The Feminist Porn Awards (FPAs), which is an annual awards ceremony that was established in 2006 in Toronto, Canada. The winners receive a trophy shaped like an anal plug.
Television series Porn 2022, which premiered on NRK this spring, with journalist Emilie Teige Skrattegård as presenter, examines why some people choose to have sex in front of the camera for payment, whether they are victims or liberated, and whether all the porn around us makes us more liberated and open, or if it creates delusions about what sex should be like.
We also have sex slavery. To prevent this, Roux believes that healthcare, daycare, food and housekeeping are needed for everyone in the United States, and not just those with money. She believes that criminal justice reform is needed, since many sex workers have a criminal record that prevents them from getting a regular job. "The police terrorize sex workers. It is more likely for us to experience violence from the police than from our customers," she writes.
She quotes a quote from author Edith Wharton, which describes her attitudes quite well: “Perhaps I am like a very fine teacup in a fine restaurant when I am at work: used by many, but mostly treated with care. I have absolutely no ambitions to stay in a closet somewhere collecting dust.” In that case, she has chosen the right profession. But towards the end of the reading, I can't help but think that the whole book feels like a kind of defense speech for why she has chosen to work with sex. Why does she have to defend herself? Maybe because of people like me, who are skeptical of the profession? Unfortunately, I am no less skeptical after finishing the book. But maybe you will be?
