The New Age of Whorearchy
By: Faith Lynn
Tags: Sex Workers, Sex Work, Sex Worker Rights, Feminism, Sex Work Laws

How FOSTA/SESTA has exacerbated a thriving whorearchy

Faith Lynn

Crabs crawling over each other in a bucket will continue to pull an individual back down so that none can successfully escape. This is similar to the way marginalized communities behave towards one another, or in other words Crab Theory. Crab Theory was originally coined at Gallaudet University as it pertains to the Deaf community. There was a tendency among some Deaf people to socially ‘punish’ others of similar social status. Researchers believed this behavior could take on multiple forms, such as gossip, social rejection, and the like.

Although the original research was designed and discussed within the Deaf community, it has multiple applications. For instance, after running a series of tests with both male and female participants, researchers at the University of Warwick found that more often than not, women were, in fact, equally as oppressive towards other women as men are. I watch with a disturbed fascination as colleagues in the sex industry feed stereotypes of cliquey “mean girls,” and this Crab Theory pervades. Adult service providers are stealing deposits, slandering their perceived competition behind closed doors, and turning to any number of hustles in order to make ends meet.

Crab Theory occurs within the sex industry as a result of whorearchy. Whorarchy is a term used to describe the way sex workers class ourselves. It exists in the way we describe one another as “high” or “low” end. We differentiate between independent, full service sex workers, street versus indoor, or even legal brothel workers. Insecurities run rampant among sex workers, much like in other industries. As we attempt to navigate those insecurities, we put “high-end escorts” on pedestals, with their European vacations and designer wardrobes, while choosing to speak of Detroit-based strippers and their “low-end” market in hushed whispers.

One Jezebel article from 2014 states, “The whorearchy is arranged according to the intimacy of contact with clients and police. The closer to both you are, the closer you are to the bottom.” Belle Knox directly illustrates the pyramid type structure that exists in the adult industry. For instance, given their proximity to both entities, according to Knox, street workers form the foundation. Those further from the bottom, look down on each group below them. Near the top, are sex workers without any direct contact with their consumers. The examples she cites are cam girls or phone sex operators. She goes on to describe that the same type of classifications even exists in the realm of porn, despite its legal status.

SESTA/FOSTA has exacerbated a thriving whorearchy by creating a scarcity among clients and undermining our ability to advertise. Every day we lose platforms attempting to cover their own asses and we’re left with nothing but ourselves and the very real fear of being run off the internet entirely. Adult service providers are increasingly more likely to turn to less safe options for income. For instance, indoor workers are more likely to turn to outdoor work. And now more than ever, workers are engaging potential clients with free emotional labor in hopes of an eventual payday.

Recently, there have been huge numbers of providers on social media, complaining about the general pulse of the industry and how sex workers treat one another. They cite SESTA/FOSTA as the catalyst. In asking around about opinions on this issue, one colleague stated they have, “extensively talked about the rift between mid and low-income sex workers doing the majority of harm reduction post FOSTA and high-end workers who were vaguely aware of the legislation.” The original thread mentioned how she felt as though the oversight and “unchecked privilege” felt like a slap in the face. It sparked a fallout from other providers, who argued that it was not productive to “blame colleagues for having their own worries. Blame law makers.”

Both views are myopic. The first person writes off any provider she arbitrarily deems to be “high-end”. The second, defensively argues the opposite. In the end, it is representative of why our industry lacks unity.

Working as self-employed freelancers under capitalism, despite the idealized notion of solidarity, we are at competition with one another. The reason that SESTA/FOSTA has allowed the surfacing of this issue is that scarcity has hit a market as it adjusts to a new reality. As advertising platforms continue to shut down or alter their Terms of Service, rendering them useless, sex workers are funneled into the few spaces left online. Sex workers flock to these few client facing sites that remain, and attempt to out-perform one another, hoping to be chosen among the seemingly infinite number of ‘vendors’ providing the same services.

As a result of this type of competition, I have lost clients. For example, I have a colleague named Hannah. Hannah and I had mutual friends and met on at least three separate occasions. At one point, she and I shared a client, George. George booked a time for him and I to spend together. He purchased roundtrip airfare for me to see him, and ensured reputable accommodations. I knew that he and Hannah were set to spend at least a week together, so when he unexpectedly cancelled our trip without seeking a refund on any payment he’d already invested, I was understandably suspicious of the timing.

Once our time together had been cancelled, I was still left with roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations. I decided to go anyways and try to make some money. I found out months later, that decision had upset both George and Hannah. Since then, other clients chose to not book me. I continue to suspect it was a result of gossip.

Incidents like that are not new. Faux comradery happens every day and is not a result of SESTA/FOSTA. Gossip and social rejection like that are just another example of Crab Theory in our industry. I have lost count of the number of peers who despite not knowing me, have blocked me on social media. The difference now, given the post legislation scarcity, my client base does not support my lifestyle as it once did. Instead, I need to supplement my income with a civilian career that is not my first choice of vocation.

As a single mother, the time and independence that comes from creating my own schedule as a sex worker, affords me specific freedoms. Despite success in a civilian industry, I was previously left unable to pay bills or spend any substantive time at home. Only in sex work can I support my child and be as involved in their life as I am. Prior to SESTA/FOSTA, the loss of potential clients as a result of the underlying whorearchy would be less of a concern than it is now.

We recently saw the banning of adult content on various blog platforms, and I would venture to guess that social media platforms will likely follow suit. Subsequently, I believe that sex workers will continue to fuel divides that already exist in order to elevate themselves. In the end, it’s not even the legislatures that will be our downfall, it will be one another as we’ve become our own worst enemies.

Albeit an unpopular choice, I just need to take care of myself and my family. I can’t fix the whorearchy that has existed for eons. Instead, my goal is to escape the bucket unscathed. SESTA/FOSTA has indeed made our bucket deeper, but we continue to pull one another back down. I’m not interested in fighting for a community that I don’t believe exists. Instead, if we all stop actively harming one another and minded our own business, we could stay safe and work with integrity.