Hi,

For starters, let me stress that I’m not trying to be provocative or negative. I’ve only embarked on my journey as an escort and for the most part, I am handling the emotional side of things very well, seeing escorting as completely rational. There’s nothing wrong with what we do and I even decided to show my face on AW.

However, some find it degrading, wrong, filthy, you name it. They either hate us by default or pity us and try to save us. Sometimes when looking at scathing punter reviews, their behaviour towards us and that they have lots of control as they pay and call the shots, I’ve got doubts whether the job is as empowering as it seemed.

I’d be happy if you could share what you find empowering about the job and how to counter self-doubt and confidence issues during quiet times or cancellations. Also, how do you handle the holier than thou types that seem to judge and know best what’s best for you?  (if they have the balls to confront you in the first place)?

First of all I wouldn't look at horrible review sites unless you have a LOT of self confidence. I refuse to, what is the point? It will just make me feel bad. Its empowering because a lot of the men worship me, compliment me loads and pay good money to be in my company. It's empowering because I set my rates and nobody else takes a cut, I don't have a boss earning more than me. I can pick and choose when I work. Cancellations piss me off but they don't knock my confidence, why would they? There are loads of idiot clients out there but its no reflection on me. I worked on self love a lot over the past year and I am still not the most confident person but this job has made me more and more confident. The gym helps a lot too!

+1

What they said.

Punter sites like to pretend they have the power but who you see is up to you, not them. They might want to see someone (and have to pay £££s just to be in the same room!) but they are not the ones deciding who actually gets seen and what is on offer when they do.

This is so true, the fact is they only have the power if you give it to them - ie. by reading the sites and taking notice of the dickheads on there.

1. Being self employed. Up until I went full time 3 yrs ago, I had only ever been an employee. I was fairly senior in my job, had many direct reports and was on track for promotion. But it's so soul destroying to give your absolute everything to a job, go the extra mile, unpaid hours, and earn exactly the same as a colleague who was doing the bare minimum. Plus - the atmosphere at the company was becoming more and more corporate. We didn't employ people any more, just "resources". When you start referring to someone who works part time as "Half an FTE" then it's time to go.

2. I enjoy the job, mostly. As I'm in the "mature" bracket I tend to mainly see guys who are over 40. (Oldest guy I've seen was 92!) I work 6am-7pm so rarely have to deal with drunk/high idiots.

3. I now feel I have the power to say "I'm not comfortable with that" rather than being a people pleaser. And that applies to every area of my life, not just sex work.

4. ^they have lots of control as they pay and call the shots^ - Noooo they do not call the shots. Forum twats are probably 1% of your business. YOU set the boundaries.

Anybody can blame who they like provided the thread stays on topic and I don't have to spend any more of my weekend away than I have to running back here to twat about with it (and I have had Irn Bru ).

Let's stick to the thread title, and if I get time to post a reply that isn't just reminding people of the above like a broken record then I can do one too

It's not the main motive for me, but selling what other women give away for free or for the price of a few cocktails I feel is empowering. But also what VC says - being self-employed, setting my own hours, seeing only who I want to see and doing what I want to do. Also, for a few clients, helping them with sexual or social issues.

Just fingering a wad of notes in my hand is as empowering as it gets...

+1
Ya ha ha!

Clearing £40,000 of credit card debt with 2 years of whoring I consider both empowering and liberating...