“This is a slippery slope and I certainly understand why you want to present a documentary. I agree with many comments already made but I want to emphasise in my own professional and educational studies survivors of childhood sexual abuse do not end up exclusively sex workers . . This is something MAK has emphasised. There is a group of survivors over 50 who have not had the recourses available. This is infact about about surviving complex Trauma . I look forward to where this documentary navI certainly don’t see Sex Workers as “ victims “ but astute business women and men servicing a community need and definitely a market. ”
“I have never been a WL but have had a number of friendships with women who are or have been. I can say that Mary-Anne is hightly likely close to the mark with her estimates of 50% based on today. However, the friendships I have had of WL my age has been dramatically higher. Many women 20-40 years ago were a lot less confident or informed and I imagine that if there is a decline in the number of WL who have experienced CSA it is largely based on more worldly and knowledgeable women of today giving greater exposure of paedophiles. Knowlege is power and Social Media and forums such as this have definitely attribued to that power.”
“Hi Charlotte, thanks for your response. According to the research we have done the rate of sex workers who have had an adverse sexual experience is extremely high. Mary – Anne suggests closer to 50%...its hard to say. It may be a credit to Mary – Annes own due diligence that she filters out young girls who she doesn’t feel are ready for the industry ..which may be why you haven’t come across as many. Of course the other thing Charlotte, is that many woman who have been traumatised by CSA will not divulge this information even to close friends or work colleagues because they don’t feel safe or on many occasions have blocked out the memory.”
“I do not been to be rude and this is purely my opinion here but I think this is exaggerated an awful lot.. Majority of my friends are escorts and not one of them has a history or any sort of abuse? I think this is a huge stereotype for us escorts and so dated.. Maryanne has corrected you so please change the wording on this blog, it is very offensive and very untrue ”
“This is really good and not spoken about enough. Would the girls who are interviewed be able to remain anonymous? I don’t have much of a story to add and I have done my own healing over the years but I did suffer sexual abuse as a child on and off. Like Mary Anne commented, I was quite strong willed and managed to get myself out of situations. I wouldn’t say it’s the reason I chose sex work but I think it definitely breaks down your self confidence and I was unable to commit to ‘normal’ jobs and study for a long time. I do have a career outside of sex work now and I got into this because I have kids & want to provide them everything they need and not have to rely on a partner. Being abused has definitely de-sensitised me to sex which has made it A LOT easier to do this line of work. I hope anyone who is reading this, know they aren’t alone and no matter if you were abused once or every day for years….its still abuse and has the same effect. Xx”
“Darrell, you must have misunderstood; it is not nearly 100% of sex workers have been sexually abused as children. The percentage was much higher when I started 43 years ago; I would have said 50%. Today, I believe it wouldn't be higher than 20% for the ladies who work at Langtrees VIP Perth. I raised four children and was always on the lookout for sexual abusers. I was one of 7 children. I was not sexually abused, but my two younger sisters were by a family friend. I recall an uncle who offered me 5 Bob to sit on his knee and cuddle him. Being strong-willed, I refused and pinched 10 shillings out of his till. I caught him 2-3 days later with my younger sister on his knee. I sorted him out and helped myself to another 10 shillings from his till. In our early 20s, after he had passed away, my sister and I told Mum and her sister Aunty Pat. They both said no, that couldn't have happened, and inferred we had made it up. It was another 10 years before my mum and aunty believed us. If someone is interested in talking with you, how do they get in touch?”