# Are strippers sex workers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917 "2018-01-18T19:06:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917/61 "2018-01-20T20:27:34Z")
The way I interpret **DrDeth** ’s distinction is that if you are performing an actual sexual act, as in intercourse, masturbating, giving a handjob, etc. in person, on stage or on camera, then you are a sex worker. A masseuse who is actually giving “happy endings” or a stripper who is actually giving BJs in the VIP Room, well, they \*are \*doing sex work by that definition. It’s the associated people – soundman, make-up lady, photographer – as well as nude models and “clean” strippers that would be classed as in Adult Entertainment, and traditionally that also has included harcore porn performers due to the distinction mentioned upthread (“performing for an audience”). ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917/62 "2018-01-21T01:42:23Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > The way I interpret **DrDeth** ’s distinction is that if you are performing an actual sexual act, as in intercourse, masturbating, giving a handjob, etc. in person, on stage or on camera, then you are a sex worker. I think the term “sex worker” was coined to remove that distinction. I believe the young woman in the OP was using the word in that sense. So, in short (too late), I am familiar with the use of the term to include to ‘exotic’ dancer. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917/63 "2018-01-21T02:12:24Z")
I feel like for most occasions where one is talking about “sex work” in any technical sense, it’s to talk about things like social stigma, dangers to women due to stalkers, being harassed by their boss or shaken down for money, etc. It’s a segment of society where the expectation that the police will show up and defend your rights to not be groped or cheated would be optimistic. I would classify a stripper as a sex worker, on that basis. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917/64 "2018-01-21T12:06:10Z")
> [@j666](#): > > To me, that distinction perpetuates the attitude that the term is used to resist, that sex workers are a lesser class of person. I think GuanoLad is a cameraman or something? So no, he genuinely isn’t a sex worker, despite being part of the industry. However there is something in the sex worker community often referred to as the “whorearchy”. Strippers who insist they aren’t actually sex workers, pole dancers who insist they aren’t actually strippers, escorts who insist they aren’t actually prostitutes, etc. > [@](#): > > I think the term “sex worker” was coined to remove that distinction. No, it was coined to emphasise the fact that they are _workers_, in need of the protection of labour laws. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917/65 "2018-01-21T13:37:38Z")
No. Strippers are not sex workers. [Cite](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9yBPcn8IqU). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917/66 "2018-01-21T14:34:30Z")
I don’t know why there’s a negative connotation to sex worker. I’d love to be able to tell people I’m a sex worker. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917/67 "2018-01-21T14:57:45Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > I think GuanoLad is a cameraman or something? So no, he genuinely isn’t a sex worker, despite being part of the industry. > > However there is something in the sex worker community often referred to as the “whorearchy”. Strippers who insist they aren’t actually sex workers, pole dancers who insist they aren’t actually strippers, escorts who insist they aren’t actually prostitutes, etc. > > No, it was coined to emphasise the fact that they are _workers_, in need of the protection of labour laws. Okay then. It sounds like “sex worker” has become synonymous with “prostitute”. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917/68 "2018-01-21T15:55:17Z")
Depends. Does the stripper have a heart of gold and is stripping in order to put herself through college? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-strippers-sex-workers/806917.md?page=3)