Breaking the Silence
After a lot of reflection, I’ve chosen to speak out on a topic that is frequently overlooked. My dedication to addressing uncomfortable truths has overcome any internal hesitations, driving me to express my views.
At the heart of this discussion is the importance of awareness. Knowledge is the foundation for change, and it is with this conviction that I share my voice on this matter.
The Devaluation of Women’s Work
Historically and contemporarily, domestic work is perceived as a woman’s domain, an innate ability to nurture and maintain a home. This perception has led to the devaluation of such work, often dismissing it as unskilled labour that does not warrant monetary compensation. This narrative extends to sex work and online content creation, both of which are often undervalued and underpaid.
The Double-Edged Sword of Digital Platforms
Digital platforms present women with numerous opportunities, including flexible work hours, a gateway into the labour market, financial independence, and a potential escape from poverty or domestic violence. However, these benefits are often overshadowed by significant drawbacks. The expectation for my time, presence, and body to be freely available is a stark reminder of the societal norm that women’s work is a given, a form of charity, and essentially, unpaid labour.
The Impact of the Pandemic on Women’s Economic Security
The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted women’s economic security. Globally, women have lost nearly twice as many jobs as men due to their higher likelihood of being in informal work such as sex work or online content creation, and their overrepresentation in the hardest-hit sectors (e.g., hospitality, retail, domestic work). The pandemic has also highlighted the negative impact of classifying workers as independent contractors or self-employed.
The Personal Struggles of Online Content Creation
Personally, I am unable to secure work insurance due to the perceived “high-risk” nature of my job. This, coupled with other social disadvantages such as the inability to purchase a home or set up a payment gateway for my business, had left me at the time with no choice but to resort to online content creation.
The Exploitation by Online Platforms
In my view, platforms such as Only Fans, Fansly, AVN Fanvue, and others, exploit our precarious situation. These platforms purport to be part of the solution, all the while profiting immensely from our unpaid or grossly underpaid labour. They also exercise complete control over the disbursement and receipt of our earnings. I have personally experienced this exploitation multiple times, losing thousands of hard-earned dollars, valuable content, and time to these online platforms that claim to support us. Unfortunately, I have found no recourse to recover these losses.
The Need for Change
This is the reality for many of us. It is a harsh reality that affects my ability to afford basic necessities like food, pay rent, save for a house, or plan for emergencies. The notion of selling explicit videos for a mere $5 or distributing explicit images free is not acceptable. As we move forward, it’s crucial to remember the importance of valuing all forms of work and ensuring fair compensation and treatment for all workers.
The incessant pressure, abuse, and demands for more content are relentless. Coupled with the expectation of maintaining a constant online presence and responding to numerous daily messages, it can be overwhelming. The backlash I receive when I fail to meet these expectations can be intimidating and, at times, frightening.
This year alone, my photography expenses have amounted to nearly $5000. The countless hours spent creating content, investing in resources, and assembling the final product often feel unrewarding. While I occasionally receive gratitude and purchases for my photography, it is usually after customers have complained about the price or attempted to negotiate for additional content or a lower price.
What Has Uber Got To Do With It?
While the following example pertains to Uber, it serves to illustrate the social responsibility that platforms have in eliminating the barriers they contribute to. I had hoped that Twitter would follow suit, but my repeated inquiries have thus far been ignored.
Uber has recently launched a commendable initiative, Uber Ellas/She Uber, to address the challenges female workers face due to street insecurity, violence, and harassment. This feature, available only to female drivers, allows them to filter travel requests to receive only those from passengers identified as women. This not only empowers female drivers but also instills confidence in female clients.To my knowledge, no such gender-inclusive policies have been implemented by platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Only Fans, Fansly, or AVN.
How Can You Contribute?
The solution is simple: recalibrate your expectations. Anticipating explicit content without financial compensation is not fair. It’s crucial to value the time and effort that goes into creating online content and to pay for it as though it carries significant worth. The nominal fees often charged for such content are minor compared to the sacrifices made in providing them. Platforms like Wish Tender provide an avenue for you to financially acknowledge and reward our labour and expertise. We provide a service that brings you enjoyment, much like fishing, golfing, dining, or traveling, all of which come at a cost.
Recognising the Value of Women’s Work
These women's efforts and time in creating online content are often overlooked. Compliments, while appreciated, do not equate to support for our work. We provide services with the same expectations as any other service or product provider. Why should it be any different for women?
The Struggles of Online Content Creation
After nearly three years of providing online content, the returns have been disappointing and distressing. The experience has been largely unrewarding, isolating, and stressful, with the added burden of having to push boundaries to increase sales constantly. Whether it’s care work, education, nursing, sex work, raising the next generation, online content creation, or domestic duties, the expectation for women to work for little or no compensation persists. It’s 2022, and this needs to change.
The Impact of the Pandemic
The pandemic has been an eye-opening experience. While I enjoy the creative process and the satisfaction of producing content that brings joy to others, the constant pressure, objectification, and expectation to provide my work for free or at a minimal cost is disheartening. It discourages me from continuing, resulting in a loss for everyone involved.
To Sum This Up
It’s time for a paradigm shift. We need to start recognising and compensating women’s work appropriately. Let’s change the narrative and create a more equitable and respectful environment for all.
This is not just about fairness, but about the future of our society. When we value everyone’s contributions equally, we foster a culture of respect and mutual understanding. We pave the way for innovation and progress that benefits everyone, not just a select few.
Moreover, this shift is not something that can be achieved overnight. It requires consistent effort, open dialogue, and the courage to challenge long-standing norms. But the rewards are immense. A society that values all its members equally is a society that thrives.
So let’s take the first step today. Let’s acknowledge the imbalance, let’s challenge the status quo, and let’s work together to build a world where everyone’s work is valued and respected. Because it’s not just about creating a better world for women, it’s about creating a better world for us all.
Support My Work
Comments