The Career Development of Bisexual Sex Workers

Abstract

Sex work is an industry that typically has a negative stigma associated with both sellers and buyers of sexual services and products. Bisexuality is commonplace in some sectors of sex work and can actually serve as an advantage for women working as pornographic actresses and/or escorts. Research has also shown that there is a higher value associated with those advertising sexual services to both genders. As such, limited research has examined sex work as a legitimate occupation and how to view the career development of those involved in this industry. This chapter provides a conceptual framework to explain the career development of bisexual female pornographic actresses and escorts from the United States using Social Cognitive Career Theory (Lent et al. Journal of Vocational Behavior 45:79–122, 1994). This theory has been particularly useful in examining marginalized groups such as gay and lesbian workers across a variety of occupations and is applicable to bisexual female pornographic actresses and escorts.