I Paid for College

Greetings,

I am writing to announce the official launch of the “I Paid for College” website, a collaborative online resource that aims to lend a voice to college sex workers nationwide.  Though the site is still in its infancy, my hope is that it will inspire a long overdue dialogue about the role of sex workers in academia.

Though access to Higher Education can be viewed as a symbol of privilege, the insular nature of college life leaves little room for critical class analysis.  As the economy falters and college tuition continues to rise, more students are turning to sex work to offset the cost of student loans.  College sex workers may operate from a place of privilege, but are in no way immune to social stigma.

From the Spitzer scandal to Belle de Jour, sex work is a hot topic for activists and media pundits alike.  Despite all the publicity, increased coverage has not yet led to increased awareness.  While nearly one million viewers tuned in to watch the US premiere of “Secret Diary of a Call Girl,” Proposition K (a measure that would have decriminalized prostitution in San Francisco) was defeated by a landslide in last month’s election. Though political progress is on the horizon, sex workers have a long, difficult battle ahead.

Theoretical discussions about sex work have been present in academia for some time, yet sex workers have (until recently) been largely absent from these discussions.  As sex workers continue to speak out, we can begin to disseminate cultures of silence and shame.  For every sex worker who is willing to share their story, many are still being denied a voice.  It is imperative that we lend our voices to this discourse.  It is imperative that we move forward together, because we cannot take this next step alone.

I hope that the “I Paid for College” project will provide a space for social and creative networking amongst college sex workers.  Though we all have something in common, our individual stories and experiences are unique.  I look forward to seeing this project develop, and I look forward to the development of a new, supportive community.

Love n’ Roses,
Bebop