Swimming against the tide has always been a difficult task for all the people that have ever carried the torch to make a difference. To know your mistake and to acknowledge it is an even greater accomplishment for any human. Far too long, we focus on proving ourselves right. Irrespective, even if the logic and fact tell us otherwise. We just need to be right. There is no other way. That is why to acknowledge yourself in complete honesty with your shortcomings and still keep your head up is a power of human consciousness that we have seemed to lose.

“Porn Star”, the word in itself has become a synonym of a lifestyle that is too far from the grasp of the common men. A lavish lifestyle the promises, fame, attention, money, and connections with most powerful men. Well, this is what we all believe in when we see the perfect virtual image painted in front of us from the media and movies. Life of a porn star would be an interesting story. If we have the power to see it not superficially but with intent to understand. By putting ourselves in her shoes.

When it comes to Mia Khalifa. She needs no introduction. In her short career in the porn industry. She rose to sudden fame after making a movie wearing the hijaab. This would also eventually lead her to re-think her career decisions. She is not a porn star anymore and now is vocal about her short stay in the industry. Sharing how she does not have any control over the media that she helped produce. She wants to pull her content down. But she can’t. Most of her videos are copied, downloaded and shared far too many times to ever be deleted for the internet and she regrets it. She just has to live with it. Whoever googles her name will find her viral porn videos but will have little to no chance of finding out that she’s not doing it anymore. That she has changed.

Our Problem with accepting Porn Stars

I have not found anyone who entered into this industry without any prior problem. Most of the females or males who enter the porn industry do so due to a handful of reasons. Some need attention, some are financially very weak, many are trafficked, some are rebels and don’t think much. But they all regret it eventually. Most of them never come out of it only because of the fear of what society will do to them. At this point, society has already banished them from their circles and hearts. How will they survive around people who warn their children against meeting them? They find living in the industry a better alternative than facing the people. Who would you say is a more evil influence to the society now?

If we just talk about people who are coming out of the industry with appreciation. Let them know by our actions, looks, and conversation that they are welcome back. Just hug them, cry with them and let them know how important and courageous their decision is. Half of the battle is already won. The problem is that courageous people like Mia are still called Porn Stars and not survivors. The bad past they shared online is and will be present there until it is outnumbered by posts and news articles of people sharing their stories of courage and acceptance. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to search Mia Khalifa on Google and the first result shows her picture with her story of survival and the support she received.

Is Prostitution still Sex Work?

Mia Khalifa was never forced to do any sexual acts. She had control and was willing to partake in whatever movie she made. If sex work is work. She had the corner glass cubical with the view of the city. Still, she left it. Less fortunate women in India’s brothels are forced to take 10-20 clients a day. Tortured, beat and kept in confinement. Small girls are given hormonal injections to mature fast and get ready to take clients. What kind of work will this be? would you like to take a job here? The crux of the matter is while you are reading this. A girl child, a woman is being forced and hurt. She is crying and needs help. She never wanted to be where she is and would we just term it as her choice and let her die in hell.

There are certain aspects of work that prostitution can never provide. For example, prostitutes are dreaded with diseases that shorten their life span. I am not even touching on the mental trauma that women in prostitution go through. People have often debated that prostitution has similar risks as any other job would have. Though this gives a very clear debate opportunity to both sides and there is no end to this debate. Therefore it is unnecessary. I would outright say that prostitution is not a work.