Only Fans: empowering or demeaning?

The sex industry has always been a way for women to make easy money but since the inception of Only Fans it’s become a lucrative, appealing and socially acceptable business. Many women are candid and unashamed about this traditionally taboo career path. I’m constantly surrounded by stories of women who quit their ordinary jobs for Only Fans. Some joined OF for reasons such as struggling to pay for bills and rent on an average salary, whilst others were tempted by the promise of getting rich quick.

I can understand the financial motivations for creating content on the famous adult entertainment site. We live in an economic climate where it’s extremely difficult to enjoy a good standard of life. Prices to rent and buy property are through the roof and often little is left over for much else. Young people work hard for low salaries especially nurses and teachers. Unless you earn over six figures, inherit a lot of money or have financial help from parents, the cost of living crisis is very real.

Thanks to Only Fans, content creators can earn more than Premier League footballers. Sadly, it seems that there’s very little alternative to making a lot of money outside of sex work and when you think about it men are only prepared to pay women a lot of money as long as they’re willing to use their bodies. This is deeply problematic and shows that society still hasn’t progressed very much if women are still valued far more for their bodies than their minds.

These content creators on Only Fans may argue that they have the upper hand and that they’re taking advantage of men. This might very well be true, but these men wouldn’t pay them if they didn’t post spicy content. Some content creators also argue that they feel empowered and enjoy embracing and flaunting their sexuality. Again this can also be true but the problem is the vast disparity between male and female content creators. Female content creators vastly outnumber male ones.

Women are far less likely to pay for sex or sexual content and men don’t have to prove how confident and comfortable they are in their sexuality. Men are not objectified in the same way as women. They are not made to feel ashamed of their bodies and sexuality nor do they feel that it defines them. Men have traditionally always earned more and have held the vast majority of high positions such as president or doctor. Men have not had to use their body to become rich or to be taken seriously.

It’s sad that so many women have accepted that the only way to be financially secure is through sex work or being financially dependent on a man. It’s 2024 and women can be anything they want to be so why are many still reverting to sexist and demeaning means?

Sex work will always exist as long as people have sexual needs. I am not completely against sex work as for some it is the only way to get their needs met, especially if they’re struggling to find a partner or are lonely. However the fact that the sex industry is a billion dollar industry is alarming. The sex industry has opened the doors to exploitation, perversion, porn addiction and other societal issues. It also heavily encourages the objectification of women.

Content creators might say it’s empowering, but personally how exactly is a bunch of old fat married misogynists wanking over you empowering?

Being a spicy content creator only encourages and promotes sexism. We should be teaching men to value a woman’s intellect and talents, not sexual prowess. Instead of investing in the adult entertainment industry, men should be encouraged to invest in creating equal opportunities for women such as financing women’s football teams or schemes for more women to become business owners or gain higher positions in companies and politics.

Women have contributed so much to the world and we have so much potential. We have the tools to become good leaders, businesswomen, doctors and artists etc, but all that potential is being wasted by reverting back to a very patriarchal and primitive role. Women deserve so much more. Maybe if we boycotted the adult entertainment industry and put pressure on society, men and governments to invest in more opportunities for women to gain financial and professional success, Only Fan wouldn’t be the only way for a woman to be visible.