Children Of Sex Workers Open Up About How Their Parents’ Career Impacted Their Lives

As expected, many of the stories were heartbreaking. For many children of sex workers, their relationship with their mother is nonexistent. Many of their lives were in danger based on the type of men brought home.

"Different scumbag dudes every night, one of them came into my room and pointed a pistol at my face. Al my belongings worth anything were sold for drugs. Was left at home for days sometimes a week or so alone. Cupboards were locked shut I wasn't allowed to eat, she tried to stab me multiple times and threw me off the second story balcony of our apartment. I had to pull a heroine needle out of her arm when I found her passed out on the kitchen floor," wrote Redditor FootLongSockPumper.

A Redditor who remained anonymous shared a story from a friend whose mom was currently on the streets. "From his descriptions she's in rough shape," he said, mentioning she was offering low-cost sexual favors and was now homeless. "He is married and stable. He goes out 2-3 nights a week looking for her." The Redditor questioned why his friend did this, especially since the efforts never seem to lead to her getting help.

"When he finds her, he gives her money gets her to eat, tries to get her off the street," the Redditor continued. "Many times she doesn't recognize him. I asked him why. It's futile AF, and he knows it. He said: 'it's my mom, as long as she and I are alive, I can't stop trying.'" That, in itself, is heartbreaking to hear.

Even if they share a career, these moms all had different motives that brought them there. Some of them may have been forced. Some might have started as a way to provide for the family. And some moms might enjoy it. The work itself shouldn't be seen as shameful — we all do what we need to, to survive. But these important stories and feelings don't relate to everyone who's in the same position.

Some men and women might thrive with sex work and find it something they feel naturally good about. Some who are in this line of work don't struggle to provide for their family. All families run differently, and all situations aren't alike. But that's why this thread is so important. It's showcasing real experiences, both good and bad.

"Mom was a 'porn star' in the 70s/80s…did stuff with Ron Jeremy and the like," wrote Revolutionary-Elk-28. "It was always a very taboo thing growing up, but my dad tried to prepare us for bullies at school due to the town being fully aware of what she did. No bullies."

That shows that perhaps people are more understanding than some may think. It's possible the neighborhood quietly thought the job wasn't that bad — and it didn't seem to have a negative affect on the family. It was just a job.

The variety of tales is a reminder that some sex work can be done in a safe and healthy environment. It's just important to never cross any questionable boundaries and to trust the people who you work with. "Mine didn't walk the streets but she slept with men when we needed money or food," wrote FluManAchoo.

"She hid it pretty well," he continued. "We always thought these men were being nice and just giving us money. Now that I look back on it it all makes sense. She passed 10 years ago and I am thankful to her for it." It may have been tough to figure it out, but in a way, it seems as if he gained even more respect for his mother.

Since sex work is often seen as taboo, it's a hard topic to bring up. Many of these Redditors had a lot to get off their chest. It seems clear that moms truly got into the line of work for varying reasons, and it's another great reminder that we can't lump all "sex work" together as one main category. Plenty of women are doing it safely.

By making it legal, we may be able to avoid some of the shadier or more upsetting consequences that many people hear about. According to a study published in Women & Health, 82% of adult prostitutes have been physically assaulted. That's a ridiculous statistic that needs to change.

That's not the only alarming statistic. After speaking with sex workers, the researchers also found that 83% had been threatened with a weapon, 68% were raped, and 84% experienced homelessness during some time. All of these scenarios are terrifying but often seen as part of the risk of sex work.

One Redditor on the thread told an incredible story about how his mother managed to create a better life for herself thanks to sex work. "I think she did it because that was the quickest path to a better life, and I'm not embarrassed by it," they wrote. "She was from a very poor family in Seoul, so it would've been impossible for her to claw her way out of poverty. My dad was drafted into the army at the tail end of Vietnam, and ended up stationed at the DMZ in Korea. He has always been very shy and socially awkward, so my guess is he met her at a brothel there. She thought he was some rich American soldier, and decided it was a way to get to the US for her and her family."

After realizing that they still weren't making ends meet, his mom went back into sex work. He didn't see her as much, and eventually, she got mixed up with drugs. Then it was clear that the drugs caused her mental health to deteriorate, and she reportedly took her own life.

"It certainly affected me tremendously, but it mostly makes me sad," the Redditor wrote. "My mother did what she what she felt she had to, and I love and miss her. It's very hard to not know what really happened and to probably never have any closure from a difficult situation."

The variety of stories show how there's no "one size fits all" when it comes to sex work. These mothers worked these jobs for a variety of reasons, despite the risks. Women will continue to do so, which means it makes sense to try to protect them from as much harm as possible. Sex work is work, so it's important to make sure children of sex workers have the same opportunities that everyone else does.