To Maggies

Hi Maggies,

To preface this email, I am a sex worker -- I have contacted Maggies before under a few different emails (and via phone) and appreciate the help I have received greatly.

I am also a graphic design student at OCADU doing my fourth year thesis on the sex industry -- in my thesis I am aiming to talk about the nature of work by talking about sex work, from an anti-capitalist/political standpoint. At this point the pieces meander and are not explicitly activist/advocacy in nature -- my graphic design practice is more in creating work that asks questions rather than solving problems. 

To give a sense of the kind of work I have been doing so far, “The Cumshow” (https://vimeo.com/110849832 - 6 minutes long) is a video I have just completed about my personal experience of being a camgirl.  The tone is not a feature I intend to carry through all my pieces, but hopefully it shows my personal investment and the level of care I put into my work. I have also created a quick poster critical of the monologue/dialogue nature of the reformation of Canada’s sex work laws.

I am contacting you about a several of possibilities in ways Maggies can help me with my project.  I understand the organization has limited resources, and appreciate any aid you can offer.  The three possibilities are interviews, participatory research, and/or advice.

The first possibility would be to help me find subjects for one on one interviews -- not for “gritty life stories” or on whether or not sex work is “exploitation or empowerment” -- but on their opinions of the nature of work in general, experiences with other jobs, as well as specific questions such as “what upsets you the most about the conversations happening about sex work (ex. in the media, between individuals)”, “what do you think is missing in conversations about sex work”, “what questions should we be asking”, and “who do you think the people who need to hear this the most are”.  I intend to use the material gathered in pieces (as direct quotes or storytelling), and to inform the overall direction of my project.  The final work will be shown in an end of year student exhibition at OCADU (in May), and will likely be published online.  I am not certain of what the mediums will be, but print, video and audio are all likely possibilities.

A second possibility is participatory research.  One of my professors, Sheila Sampath, has worked with Maggies before, and suggested this.  I will admit this is a methodology I am interested in but not familiar with -- however I have ample resources to guide me.  This would take up more of the organization’s time than the one on one interviews, but would ensure the outcomes aligns in a way that meets the needs of the organization.  It would also ensure that my research conducted with the help of Maggies is more of a give and take scenario, with regular check ins and benefits on both sides, than extracting information from individuals (although even that case I would like to keep everyone “in the loop”, if desired).  In this case we would meet and discuss needs Maggies as an organization has, and identify ways I can help.

If the above possibilities are not within the scope of what Maggies can offer, if someone could look over questions I have prepared for interviews (I know several sex workers who are interested), and advise me on questions/ideas I have regarding the safety and support of individuals participating (before, during and after), that would be very helpful as well. (And also, I guess, advice on safety for myself, as I am outing myself as a sex worker at a pretty pivotal point of my creative career).

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and again I appreciate anything you can do to help.

Cheers,

Josephine