ProstituteOpEdPiece

Inside work: A prostitute says plying her trade in massage studios is safer and better paid than on the streets or for escort agencies

Micah Erickson, Special to the Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, December 06, 2005

My name is Micah. I am a Vancouver prostitute, and the single mother of a pre-school child.
I grew up in foster care and have a Grade 9 education. I have a massage practitioner's license. During the day I worked at a straight job, for $9 per hour, until quitting two weeks ago.

I am now looking for another day job. There is no way that I can make enough money to pay for daycare and support my son and myself on $9 an hour.
At night I work in a massage studio to supplement my income. Working as a prostitute is emotionally and spiritually draining, but it's a choice I've made so I can support my son and myself and plan for our future. I'm saving money to go to hairdressing school.

Without my night job there is no way I could do that. Without my night job I would probably be on social assistance.
At the studio (we dislike the term "brothel") I'm able to choose my clients. I'm not forced to do anything I'm not willing to do, and I don't provide any services that make me uncomfortable.
I keep all my tips less $10 per shift for advertising. The company provides me with everything I need to work comfortably and safely. I have STD tests regularly to ensure the safety of my clients and myself, and I don't smoke or use illegal drugs.

In a studio the prostitutes are never alone, and the clients are aware that there are always other people there. This screens out the abusive predators who merely wish to harm us.
I've experienced violence in a studio only once in 10 years. The lady I was working with came to my rescue and we threw him out. Unfortunately, those men pick up prostitutes who work the streets and who have no protection.
Violence within the trade usually occurs on the streets. Every night, the women and men who work the streets face robbery, beatings, police harassment, arrest and sometimes death.

To avoid the police, they must go to secluded spots, which put them in more danger from men who are looking for human beings to abuse.

Street prostitutes don't want to work on the streets, but circumstances have led them there. Anything can and does happen to them -- no one knows where they are and no one cares.

Escort services have become quite popular. It's very cut and dried work. You show up, get your money, provide your service and leave. I hate that work because it's so dangerous. You never know what you are walking into.
The men who called for us have usually been drinking or using cocaine and don't want to leave their hotel or home.
Even though we are the ones risking our lives, the escort service takes a great deal of the money we make, and in the end they made more than we do.

If all sex workers worked inside a studio it would eliminate a great deal of violence against them. The community wouldn't have to see them on the streets, and men wouldn't be circling blocks where families live and people work.
Working inside would also allow many of the drug-addicted sex workers to get help with their addictions. Then they might be able to gain control of their lives and get out of the business as I hope to do someday.
Prostitution will always be here. But if we decriminalize it, put the sex workers in studios and monitor them we will be keeping them safe, cutting down on the spread of disease and cleaning up our streets.

As well, it will give many prostitutes the opportunity to become drug-free and leave the profession.

Micah Erickson, 29, resides in Vancouver and frequently travels to Calgary where she also works at a massage parlour.

© The Vancouver Sun 2005