The Impact of Social Hierarchies on the Sex Industry: Who Can Identify as a Sex Worker?

Human civilizations are strongly imprinted with social and sex industry hierarchies, which frequently determine power relations and influence perceptions. These hierarchies pervade mainstream culture and the sex industry, causing divisions and stigmas among those engaging in various forms of sex work. As a result, marginalized populations within the industry struggle to form a united front in the face of their difficulties.
Many people in the sex industry quickly distinguish themselves from others by constructing arbitrary distinctions between different sorts of work. This behavior could be the result of a subconscious desire to mimic societal hierarchies, a drive to obtain social capital, or internalized stigmas about sex work. This separation has the potential to increase sex workers’ isolation and disunity.

Who can identify as a sex worker is also a point of contention. Some believe that anyone whose income is related to sex and sexuality is a sex worker, while others make the difference based on the level of danger involved in the employment. Due to heightened censorship and discrimination following the adoption of Bill C-36, also known as the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA), in 2014, many sex professionals identified as sex workers.

However, focusing on internal conflicts distracts from the real difficulties that sex workers confront, such as housing discrimination, a lack of access to healthcare, and assault. Rather than disputing semantics, the sex work community may focus its efforts on empowering workers and improving industry conditions.
Breaking down these social inequalities requires changing society’s image of sex labor as a valid type of labor. The sex work community may overcome the barriers imposed by internal hierarchies and establish a more inclusive, friendly atmosphere by working together to battle stigmas and cultivate acceptance.