Dear Academics,
You need to stop abusing sex workers for knowledge, money, and fame. If sex workers are being so generous as to offer you their time, energy, and personal insight into a taboo subject, you better find a way to give back. Historically, academics have used sex workers for their own professional benefits, while sex workers would receive nothing in return. That type of behavior is unethical and immoral. When conducting research, there should be some perceived benefit or compensation on behalf of the sex workers who participate in your study. Upon completion of the research study, academics should also provide a copy of the research they conducted to their participants.
Giving back isn’t difficult. Volunteer with sex worker organizations. Provide compensation if it is within in your budget. Ask sex workers what they need from you, and what they would like to see as a result of your study. Many academics want to conduct the same studies over and over without any thought of what might actually be useful to sex workers. They fail to realize that without sex workers and the sex industry, they would be out of a job.
This is not to say that all academics are bad. While many academics do abuse sex workers for knowledge, money, and fame, there are many of us that would like to create a mutually beneficial relationship between ourselves and the sex workers who kindly participate in our research studies.
I am an academic because I love learning, writing, and conducting research, but I am well aware that being an academic is a privilege. What use are you if you don’t do something good with your privilege?
x Stella
