Definitions

Sex Trade: the industry that includes any job related to using sex to make money, although is not limited to those who specifically perform sexual acts for compensation **

Sex Worker: any person who earns money by providing sexual services including; strippers, porn actors, phone sex operators, glamour and nude models, and more **

Prostitution: the act of performing sexual acts specifically for material compensation, usually money but may also include property, drugs, jewelry or clothing *

Prostitute: a person whom performs prostitution for one or more clients/customers, usually refers to a person who is working on the street and is highly stigmatized by society in general and is illegal in most places *

Escort Services: claim to offer only social companionship although most actually offer sexual services at a higher cost than a street prostitute might charge for the same, often arranged through a third party (agent) for a fee or advertised in public forums online *

Pimp/Madam: a person who lives off the proceeds of several prostitutes and may offer some form of protection in return, pimp is for a male and madam refers to a female *

Brothels: buildings or houses used specifically for prostitution, where they are allowed they are often restricted to certain areas of town known as ‘red-light districts’, usually run by a pimp or madam, prostitutes may live and work in the same place *

Truck Stops: prostitutes who work truck stops are commonly called ‘lot-lizards’ and will proposition truckers via CB radios while waiting in another part of the parking lot *

Sex Tourism: travelers from developed countries visit poorer nations in order to seek out sexual services which are either unavailable or too expensive in their home country *

Stripper: a person who takes off their clothes for money, usually on stage while dancing to music, may also perform lap dances for individual customers for additional money, the client is generally not allowed to touch the performer at any time

Exotic Dancer: can be used as an alternative/synonym to “stripper” but also refers to a person who dances in a similar manner but who never actually gets naked

Massage Parlor: while the workers may actually offer massage services, most clients know they are really offering sexual services in exchange for money, usually oral sex or manual stimulation, are run similar to how a brothel would be organized ***

Pornography: comes from the Greek for ‘prostitute writing’ and is the explicit representation of the human body or sexual activity for the purpose of creating sexual arousal, makes use of all media forms including; print, photos, sculpture and video, the Internet has made pornography (porn) much more accessible and widely available ^

Erotica: essentially the same as pornography but that which is deemed to have artistic merit, the difference between the two is highly subjective and often based on personal taste or values ^

BDSM: refers to the practices of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism, professionals offer these services in exchange for compensation, sex is not always involved and as a result many pros prefer to distance themselves from the sex trade and the stigma involved, typical activities include; spanking, whipping, and torture ^^

Also Associated with the Sex Trade: ^^^
- Phone-Sex Operators
- Peep-Shows
- Live-Sex Shows
- Nude Modeling
- Glamour Modeling
- Pornography Actors and Actresses
- Photographers, Videographers, and Directors
- Clothing Designers
- Advertisers


Works Cited:

Highleyman, Liz. “Professional Dominance: Power, Money, and Identity.” Whores and Other Feminists. Ed. Jill Nagle. New York: Routledge, 1997. 145-155. ^^

“IUSW – Recommendations – Appendix 1: Quality and Quantity in Sex Work.” The International Union of Sex Workers. 9 March 2007
http://www.iusw.org/policy/11_app1_quality.html ^^^

MacCowan Lyndall. “Organizing in the Massage Parlor: An Interview with Denise Turner.” Whores and Other Feminists. Ed. Jill Nagle. New York: Routledge, 1997. 232-241. ***

“Pornography.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 6 March 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography ^

“Prostitution.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 6 March 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution *

“Sex Worker.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 6 March 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_worker **

Prostitution Subculture Terms

Bad Date: a client that has threatened or injured a prostitute

Boyfriend: often used to refer to a pimp

Dates/Johns: the customers or clients of a prostitute

Half and Half: the prostitute will perform oral sex followed by intercourse

Life on the track: expression for the day to day life of a prostitute

Mack/Mac: the top pimp in charge

Main Lady/Wife-in-Law: the pimp’s most trusted prostitute

Safe: using a condom

Square: a person who is not a prostitute

Trap: refers to the money earned through prostitution


Source: Hodgson, James F. Games Pimps Play. Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press Inc., 1997