iamasexworker

[iamasexworker]

“I Am A Sex Worker” shares the portraits and narratives of male, female, and transgender sex workers as a way of highlighting the humanity behind sex work.

The project grew from a collaboration between photographer, Ian Kwok, and writer, Vivian Nguyen, (both students at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York) after spending time working with the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT), a human rights NGO in Cape Town, South Africa. “I Am A Sex Worker” received widespread attention in both South Africa and in the United States, culminating in a gallery exhibition and a feature on national television. The photos and narratives are shared property of the Icahn School of Medicine and SWEAT, where they have been commissioned for display. They are available for online public viewing here.

The goal of “I Am A Sex Worker” is to provide a platform for voices that often go unheard. These photos and narratives reflect the real lived experiences of sex workers who have agreed to share their stories in hopes of combating the dehumanizing, sensationalized media representation of the sex work industry and those who participate in it.

The message is simple: I am not just a sex worker, I am so much more. Through this project, we hope to spark a dialogue about the shared humanity in all of us.

The photos will be displayed next at the 2015 Infecting The City Art Festival in Cape Town, South Africa.

For inquiries, please contact SWEATstories@gmail.com

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Housekeeper

"I like to see myself helping other people by giving (out) kitchen soup."

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Person who is Living My Life

"I am very much optimistic about life and I like to analyze people. Chess is my hobby."

[iamasexworker]

I am ... Proud I'm Gay

"My family respects me and who I am. I'm a genius model."

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Dancer

"I trained in dance at UCT Ballet School and I work with different dance companies, local and international, as a dance teacher."

[iamasexworker]

I am ... Happy to be a Sex Worker

"What I'm doing is my own choice. I'm happy that I'm doing it."

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Father & Boyfriend

"I'd like to tell everyone to never give up and to believe in themselves."

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Sex Worker

"I like to gym and work."

[iamasexworker]

I am an ... Outgoing Person

"I love excitement, sports, and hiking in the summer."

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Mother

"Sex worker at night, mother of three at day. I love my children a lot."

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Singer

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... PRO!

"I love the truth."

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... People's Person

"My hobby is singing. I hope to become something one day."

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Person Who Talks Too Much

"I would like my life to change for the better."

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Sex Worker

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Florist

[iamasexworker]

I am a ... Tupperware Sales Person

"I love art, food, my family, meeting new people, reading, and traveling."