Although commonly used in society and in the media, it is important to keep in mind that the term prostitution is historically and morally loaded. Although for some, it is neutral and refers only to its strict definition, the term carries traces of stigma and people who exchange sexual services may want to eliminate it.
The term sex work or sexual work, often simplified with the letters "SW," emphasizes that exchanging sex can be considered a job, a type of work. People who refer to their activities as sex work are therefore also claiming a professional identity and the right to protect themselves.
A person who has experienced violence may identify her experience as sexual exploitation.
We believe that the most respectful approach is to let people define their own activities and experiences. The exchange of sexual services comes in various forms and some people may define themselves as dancers or sugar babies without claiming to be sex workers. It is important to remember that this distancing from the term sex work is often due to the stigma that sex workers experience. As workers, we cannot unravel this stigma from the start of an intervention. As such, once we know the terms a particular person uses to describe their activities, we can adopt them in our interventions with them, as long as they are not pejorative.
Furthermore, be aware that the term sex work is primarily used to refer to people of legal age, given the dimension of consent.
We encourage professionals to use the term "exchange of sexual services for compensation" (ESS) to refer to all activities related to the sex industry and beyond. Indeed, it can encompass informal exchanges between young people, without necessarily indicating a professional identity. This term also has the advantage of being more neutral, allowing individuals to define their own experience.