Not Safe for Work was originally featured in Movement, the fifth issue of the Talisman magazine published in Dec. 2018. To see the whole story, written by Hannah Good and photographed by Lily Estella Thompson, click here.
Sara Isakovic (not her real name) poses in one of her favorite dancing outfits. She is a full time student and an exotic dancer. She began work in her hometown, but had to transition to Louisville, Kentucky to dance after a family friend saw her working and told her parents. Her parents aren't aware that she has begun dancing again and she plans to keep it a secret. For Isakovic, she dances to pay her bills but also as a way to empower herself.
Isakovic puts her makeup on in the backstage area of the club she dances in. Isakovic is proud of the work she does and enjoys the way dancing makes her feel and the financial freedom it has given her. In the future, Isakovic plans to use her degree to open her own club where she can use her experience to help her build the business. "Being on stage just makes me feel really good," said Isakovic. "I just feel like all eyes are on me."
Kelly Moore (not her real name) is a full-time student with a full-time job and she sells niche photos of herself with the help of her boyfriend. Moore knew her body type was a fetish for some men and realized she could capitalize her body type. She's always been interested in online sex work as a means of expression and supplemental income.
For Moore the stigma around sex work frightens her in terms of her career. "If somebody were to recognize me in my future job for what I am doing now, that would not be good," said Moore.
Sierra Cooper (not her real name) is a mom and she's sold used panties and performed webcamming. While being a mother is the most important aspect of her life, Cooper thinks it's important to remember her autonomy as a human being. Following the birth of her son, Cooper suffered from postpartum depression and anxiety. To combat this, Cooper joined a secret Facebook group for moms to discuss their sexuality.
Through the group, Cooper found panty selling and took the opportunity to not only have a "dirty little secret" but to bring in a bit of extra income. She and her husband, after deliberation and research, decided to pursue webcamming with an alter ego and other measures to protect their identities. Eventually, the work became taxing and the two found it difficult to separate work and their own intimacy and decided to end their work in the sex industry.