As a boy/young man, the image I had, thanks to media portrayals and news reports, were that prostitutes were sad, abused, alcoholic and/or drug addicted unattractive women, exploited by cruel pimps, who hated men and faked all appearances of pleasure.  Occasionally a show would portray a "hooker with a heart of gold," but even these portrayals, few and far between, showed the woman as a tragic victim of circumstances.

Jump ahead a few decades and flip the script.  Now they are "escorts," who advertise on sites such as Eros, Slixa, etc., and market themselves with glamour photos and profiles in which they describe themselves as sophisticated and well-educated women travel the world and who love what they do ("I am sex-positive," one woman told me).   Reviewers point out when the woman enjoys an orgasm during the session.

So to what extent are these portrayals rooted in reality, and to what extent are they simply marketing tools?

I have met some providers whom are sad or depressed, alcoholic or drug addicted.

I have met some providers who didn't even bother to fake any appearance of pleasure.  

I have met some providers whom are sex-positive and enjoy their orgasms.  

I have met some providers whom are sophisticated and well-educated.

There are all types of providers.

The better escorts have superior marketing (or, someone they work with does) skills and acting abilities. Probably for some (most?) the money must be a large turn-on. Some of the pros must get turned on at least sometimes, but probably not completely each and every time. Alleged research suggests a range of responses among pros. My wife would tell me sometimes that she would get actually turned on and cum. But, very seldom.  lol, she was probably getting a dig into me, or not, I never could tell for sure. About the only thing I am really sure of; everybody's mileage probably varies from day to day and customer to customer.

And of course both stereotypes are rooted at least partly in fact and there are indeed drug addicted, abused women who make their living selling sex AND there are also women who LOVE sex, LOVE their clients and who LOVE their jobs as sex workers. Both of these extremes of course are the exception not the rule and I would say that "most" sex workers are exactly that, women who sell sex as a living who are not some monolithic group who are all the same, but who are just as diverse in EVERY way that counts as people who do something else for a living.

Media often portrays the business as a really dark place, full of predators lusting after smuggled, kidnapped and abused often underage women.. The other side, as you suggested, the glamorous one where the women gets thousands of dollars an hour, flies first class, wines and dines in sophisticated restaurants, and although born and raised American, uses French words further trying to polish her image..  

 
While both are real, often times in large majority of the cases, the reality is mundane and smack in the middle. Just a normal woman who wants to make extra money to pay off her school debt faster, pay some medical bills, or just wants to supplement her income with additional money. Just a normal person paying bills, driving kids to softball games and doctor's appointments..  But sadly, that will not make for a good TV or a news article now, would it?

and the ranges extend in many directions, just like life itself.

 
So, if there are any truths to be had, it would be these:

 
Payment for sex has existed since mankind began, and will be here until it ends.

Things would be much better for all if it were totally unregulated.

As a boy/young man, the image I had, thanks to media portrayals and news reports, were that there were fist-fights in bars every night.

When I was 18 I went to my first bar with a group of friends.  On the way, all I could think about was all the bar-scene fist fights I had seen on TV.  I was so happy to be with a group of friends...never would have dare go into a club alone.

40 years later I have only seen one or two such incidents.  And I've gone to strip clubs alone well over 1000 times.

-- Modified on 7/13/2021 3:06:57 PM

that the business has changed over the past five decades -- from a very hidden, dark, anonymous, fragmented fly-by-night operation to what is now in the open and is far more normalized than it was back when.  No question that a whole category of SWer has emerged that either didn't exist before or was very rare -- by that I mean the educated, career-oriented escort who is a professional and who manages a business.  Even in the last 10 years, the business has become more normalized.

What we need now is (a) de-criminalization of mainstream sex work; (b) perhaps more importantly, cultural normalization of the business.  There's no reason sex work should be different from psychiatry or physical therapy.

I do disagree with Mr. Fisher, whose opinion I hold in high regard, that sex work should be totally unregulated.  I think it should be taxed; I think there should be laws against trafficking; there should be programs for disease prevention and treatment; and unless and until there are private alternatives, the government should ensure health insurance, unemployment insurance and retirement alternatives for Swers.

The truth is you live in a sex-negative society Even those "liberal sex workers" are an oddity where most progressives do are also sex negative. I had a chance to travel around and most people don't care as much what others do in their private life. Hence, the sex industry isn't as stigmatized.  

I linked the article below and apologies if this is being discussed on another thread, but the tone of this article is exactly the type of media that creates the mindset the op was talking about I believe. Notice how many times they reference sex trafficking...
And my problem is that yes I don't deny that women who literally work the streets are far more vulnerable than those who don't and yes I do agree partially with a point that was made more than once. And that is to not prosecute but provide resources.  
But they miss the real point and it's infuriating that the media outlets are still creating this narrative.  
Once again, according to this article, all sex workers are victims and the resources they need are help. For their lost trafficked souls.
Excuse my language, but no Bitch, sex workers need resources like healthcare resources, banking abilities & privileges, ability to operate in a safe and secure environment, not your fukn refugee rescue team.