This short film, created for the ‘Women for Sale: Private Matter or Public Crisis’ conference, shows a series of prostitution adverts, quotes from reviews by sex buyers (punters) of the women they buy, and quotes from women with lived experience of prostitution about what it is really like.
Content warning: While there are no explicit images, and we have avoided quotes that express extreme violence, you may find the film upsetting or distressing. However, it is important that we understand the reality of prostitution if we are to consider how best to address it.
Transcript
This short film shows a series of: (a) Prostitution adverts, (b) Reviews by sex buyers (punters) of women they paid for sex (read by actors), and (c) Quotes from prostitution survivors about what it feels like.
All of the quotations are genuine, although some have been edited for length. The survivor quotes are from women we know, some of whom are here today. On all of the adverts, the phone number was available without logging into the site – meaning there was no vetting of punters.
The slides are colour-coded:
- Red means an advert from a big prostitution advertising site in the UK.
- Black means a punter quote from an advertising or punter review site.
- Yellow means a quote from a woman who has experienced prostitution.
Advert 1
NEW SEXIEST GIRL IN TOWN🔥🔥
“Allow me to make you happy… I have everything for that! ❤️❤️❤️Unforgetable experience. SATISFACTION GUARANTED. Hot session with warm atmosphere, full discretion and safety.”🔞🔞
Punter quote 1
“It truly is like living in a fantasy world. Walking through a parlour door and getting to pick from a range of girls to suck my cock and be fucked by me. All my teenage fantasies right there.”
Survivor quote 1
“You have to shag a strange variety of random men you would never dream of touching in real life. Ugly, smelly, all different ages, including very old men. And men treat you as a piece of meat and fuck you really really hard so that it hurts and push your boundaries.” – Laura
Advert 2
“I am from JAPAN just arrive, and ready to provide you with the best Asian escort and massage experience.⭐Please call me⭐
My dress size is 8 with natural & perky breasts with a nice round bum that you are welcome to play with. I’m here to fulfill your needs…”
Punter quote 2
“I was genuinely so disappointed with the lack of oral without a condom and deep French kissing, especially when it was advertised. That ruined a big part of the experience for me. How the worker makes you feel – little hand strokes etc – are more important than simply having sex with an absent beautiful woman.”
Survivor quote 2
“I was 17 when I entered prostitution and 18 months later when I was so depressed that I couldn’t hold it in any longer and one punter, who must have been showing a bit of kindness to me, I opened up to and told him how depressed I was, how much I hated being there, and cried. He listened but then still wanted to get his money’s worth afterwards.”– Kelly
Advert 3
💦💦NEW NEW⛔️💦💦 CURVY GIRL 💙 NO RUSH
Services I offer:
- ‘A’ Levels [Anal]
- BDSM
- Domination
- Fetish
- French Kiss
- GFE [Girlfriend experience]
- OW [Oral with condom]
- OWO [Oral without condom]
- PSE [Porn star experience]
- WS [Water sports/urination]
Punter quote 3
“Started well enough. Moved onto anal and this is where it went downhill. After a few gentle pumps she stopped and said she can’t do it. I was very disappointed as her profile indicated she liked it. Even confirmed on phone. Annoyed. My time was wasted.”
Survivor quote 3
“People think prostitution is about having consensual sex for money. It’s not. Those men don’t want to pay for that. They paid me and then used me however they wanted. I was beaten with objects until I bled; anally raped; I was shouted at, threatened, choked, told to look like I enjoyed it or he’d take the money back. I was scared every single second.” – Harriet
Advert 4
“30 years old. Independent girl, natural personality, cute and more. I am independent and 100% genuine. I would like to enjoy a wonderful time with nice gentlemen & would like to fulfill all your wishes.”
Punter quote 4
“She put the requested uniform on before I arrived. It was an extra £30 to ejaculate on her face; Skillful tongue work during oral without, took care of the balls too, good suction power; easily one of the best. But not the best girlfriend experience. She’s more like a professional service provider, kind of distancing herself from clients.
Survivor quote 4
“Apparently every cell in your body regenerates every 7 years. I’m nearly at that point. I’m hoping my body might let go of some of the memories of the men who paid to use me but I worry my mind never will.” – Jenna
Advert 5
💯NEW ♥️NEW💦 PARTY GIRL 🔥💦
“My services will not just meet your expectations they will surpass them, leaving you not merely satisfied, but profoundly captivated and longing for more. Every moment spent with me is more than fun it is a sensual journey of exploration.” ⭐️
Punter quote 5
“She hadn’t made an effort. Showed little to no interest in kissing or holding. Got me onto the bed and asked if I’d like a blow job. I agreed and she reached for a condom. I said I wanted oral without (as the advert said). She went on this massive rant about how men don’t get screened and she does regularly and basically totally killing the mood.”
Survivor quote 5
“I exited prostitution 22 years ago when I was 18, after 18 months in the sex industry. I still carry shame around it, struggle to talk about it, still struggle to be around men. I’ve got PTSD.” – Kelly
Advert 6
💋👅 BRUNETTE BRAZIL 👅💋
“I’m friendly and fun-loving, a beautiful lady, always smiling and open-minded! I have a natural and incredible body. Tell me your desires and let me make them come true. I promise you a good time. By the way, the photos are real, and my service is guaranteed.” 🥰❤️❤️❤️🔥
Punter quote 6
“My meeting was genuinely awkward. She looked like under the effects of chemicals: her mouth was moving constantly, she kept breathing, heaving up the nose and was disoriented when I talked to her. But I decided to give it a go. Some of the services listed were not provided (i.e. deep French kissing), which was a massive turn off.”
Survivor quote 6
“Enough of the men paying me, enough of feeling that is all I am worth. Enough of them using me. I need to find another way to deal with the pain. The physical pain, the emotional pain, the flashbacks, the poverty. The sex and selling sex has failed.” – Emma