The sex business combines the worst of it. Prostitutes, women of color, particularly African American women, ignored by the feminist mainstream, so that African American prostitutes have no visibility and no support from most women's organizations. Community leaders should listen to and support Black sisters who are working now, or who have worked. We should be encouraged to talk about our experiences, or to file complaints against the johns and the cops. We need childcare and all the other services that are in place for everyone else.
Social workers can be pretty insensitive.
They try and make us feel guilty for not living up to the white, middle class role model. There is so much talk about finding work, but the people who run these programs seem to be mostly concerned with keeping the funding for their jobs. We should insist that money be made available for these programs. Women who want to 'help us' out of prostitution, should not forget all the sisters who won't be getting out, for whatever reason. We all need money to raise our children, for medical services and for places to live.