When most folks think Saturday night, they imagine a laid-back evening in the pub with mates, chugging down some cold ones and having a good laugh. But for yours truly, Amy Penny, an escort in London, it's a different story. My Saturday nights often kick off in high-end places like the Randolph or Malmaison, sipping wine and hobnobbing with Oxford's business elite. Overall it became a journey of self-love.
Trading Beer Pong for Wine Glasses
Just picture this. As your typical undergrad heads home from the club with a random, slightly tipsy bloke, I'm being escorted upstairs to provide my suave client with the night (or a mere two hours) of his dreams. The payoff? A hefty sum and a satisfied smile on my face. Pure mischief, right?
It ain't just about the moolah, though. I love my job, not for the dough but for the unique experiences it brings. The diversity, meeting fascinating folks, savouring exquisite food and drinks, and of course, the joy of giving (and receiving) pleasure. It's a win-win for me!
Manchester Beginnings: No Glitz, Just Grit
Back in my undergrad days in Manchester, this gig started as a side hustle to fund my studies. I'd heard about student escorts in a mag and gave it a shot. I banked £300 on the first night in just two hours. Not shabby, eh?
That escort life wasn't as glam as it sounded, though. Living in a bustling city meant seeing more clients, and not all of them were the creme de la creme. Sometimes I ended up in dingy apartments that reeked of weed and dirty socks or found myself in sketchy city parts late at night. Yeah, not exactly a Cinderella story.
The Oxford Upgrade: Quality Over Quantity
When I moved to Oxford, things took a turn for the better. Oxford clients didn't mind shelling out premium rates for an Oxford student's company. At the grand old age of 24, I leveled up and joined an upscale agency, Oxford Dodo Companions. The result? High-end clients who appreciate class and sophistication—the perfect blend of beauty and brains.
Don't get me wrong, these posh folks have their quirks too. But in Oxford, they’re keen to steer clear of trouble and stay under the radar. So, respect and discretion are a given on both ends.
Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Stereotypes and Stigma
The escort life comes with its share of downsides, mostly thanks to societal bias and negative stereotypes about adult workers. My gal pals know what I do, and after initial concern, they've been supportive. But my guy friends struggle with the idea of me selling my body. And that gets my goat—this idea that a woman's worth diminishes because she has sex with strangers, or gets paid for it, seems downright old-fashioned and hypocritical.
For me, this gig is just another job, and honestly, I prefer the company of polite clients over being hounded by drunk patrons while working bar shifts.
Navigating the Grey: The Rise of Adult Work Among Students
Turns out, I'm not alone. In 2020, around 7% of UK students took up adult work to fund their studies. The pandemic played a role in the rise, with platforms like OnlyFans booming. Sadly, lockdowns led to the shutdown of most escort agencies, leaving many student escorts without financial support. This just highlights the discrimination and stigma that adult workers face regularly.
Time for a Change, Oxford!
One major issue is the failure to differentiate between illegal street prostitution and regulated, tax-paying escort agencies. Not every sex worker is a drug addict or works for a pimp. Some of us are just students striving to pay our dues.
Ironically, Oxford is quite intrusive in student lives, leading to a constant fear of being exposed and penalized. It's about time Oxford updated its stance. Recognize and support those of us who choose sex work as a viable income option. Create a safer and healthier environment for us, without the fear of being judged.
Escorting and Empowerment: An Unlikely Pair?
Oxford loves to harp on about their female empowerment efforts but balks at the idea of their students choosing to escort. That's a paradox if I've ever seen one. Let's talk about real empowerment and let women decide what they want to do with their bodies, alright?
Surely, colleges aren't expected to actively recruit students into prostitution, but a little non-judgmental support wouldn't hurt. Time to practice those buzzwords, Oxford: 'inclusivity', 'safe space', and 'progressive change'. Let's smash the stigma together. Cool? Cool.
From Secret Lives to Shared Experiences: Breaking The Taboo Together
In a world that continues to evolve and promote equality, it's absurd to think that the choice to engage in adult work is still met with such disdain. But here's the rub – it's not about encouraging young women to join the ranks of escorts or shaming those who decide to walk this path. It's about acceptance, understanding, and the crucial aspect of 'choice'.
The Real Cost of Societal Stereotypes
My mates struggled initially with the idea of my occupation, especially the blokes. It really grinds my gears that a woman is somehow perceived as 'less valuable' because she has multiple sexual encounters or chooses to accept payment for it. It’s as though the old double standard has been thrown back into the ring – men are lauded for their sexual conquests, but women? Not so much. Let's call a spade a spade – this is a job, like any other. Having seen both sides, I can vouch that I much prefer sipping cocktails and sharing intimate moments with polite, well-groomed clients over being berated by drunk patrons during a late-night bar shift.
A Rising Trend, Yet Still Unrecognized
Here's something that might shock you – as of 2020, an estimated 7% of UK students took up adult work to fund their studies, a significant jump from 4% in 2019. The pandemic had a role to play, with platforms like OnlyFans seeing an immense boom. But guess what happened when lockdowns forced most escort agencies to close? Many student escorts, myself included, were left without any financial support that folks in other jobs received. This glaring lack of assistance from the government is a harsh reality of the discrimination adult workers continue to face.
It's High Time to Break the Taboo
There seems to be a wide misconception among people who fail to distinguish between illegal street prostitution and properly regulated, tax-paying escort agencies. Not every sex worker is a junkie, and not every escort is under the thumb of a pimp. Some of us are just trying to fund our education while maintaining focus on our studies. And yet, the conservative attitudes of the government and universities attempt to sweep even the safe and legal forms of adult work under the rug, making it harder for student escorts like myself to access appropriate healthcare, welfare, and financial support.
A Plea for Understanding: From Oxford, With Love
In Oxford, the colleges are so deeply involved in every aspect of a student’s life that there's a persistent fear of being 'outed' and penalized for making the university 'look bad.' Ironic, isn't it? Colleges are quick to provide condoms and morning-after pills for a drunken romp but turn up their noses at consensual adult work. Isn't it about time you caught up with the times, Oxford?
While I'm not exactly campaigning to disclose my job to all my peers, I firmly believe that addressing these stereotypes and acknowledging sex work as a legitimate income option can help provide a safer, healthier, and more stable environment for those of us who rely on it. And yes, that includes the 7% (and counting) of us who find adult work rewarding, enjoyable, and, in its own unique way, satisfying.
The Future of Escorting: A Call for Inclusion
In a world that prides itself on female empowerment, it's baffling how universities like Oxford pat themselves on the back for their 'progressive' efforts while simultaneously shuddering at the idea of their female students opting to work as escorts. Nobody's asking for colleges to start recruiting students into sex work. What we need, however, is a little empathy and a lot less judgment. If Oxford truly aspires to live up to its favorite buzzwords – 'inclusivity', 'safe space', and 'progressive change for sex work' – perhaps it's time to show some support.
In conclusion, let's talk about genuine empowerment – the freedom for a woman to decide what she wants to do with her body. Sounds fair, right? Over to you, Oxford.