'Sex may sell, but it doesn't pay'

The September 18-24 issue of the BRW reported that 'sex may sell, but it doesn't pay' with the average wage of the 21,060 workers in the sexual services sector being $33,610 per annum. I think many of us would be surprised by this low figure as the sex industry has been largely glamourised in the media, in film and television, and by those seeking to exploit women. We hear a lot about the high hourly rates earnt by high class prostitutes and strippers, and I think people, particularly men, try and use this high figure as a justification for the subjectification of women.

But I think this supply and demand economical argument fails when you try and put a price on someone's body. Who has the right to put a price on someone else's body? What price would you put on your body? What price would you put on your childs' body? And just because someone is willing to pay x amount and another is willing to provide a service for x amount does this make it ok? Certainly I accept the right of a sex worker to follow that profession, but we need to ensure that it is an informed choice, and like all workers, we need to protect those peoples safety at work. The problem with the sex industry is that participation in the legitimate side of the industry (of both workers and those paying for such services) will ultimately fuel a black-market for said services - of which obviously offers no protection to its workers and leads to the exploitation of someone's body.