Challenging misconceptions through lived experience and evidence about sex work, sexuality, and societal attitudes
Series 2 Episode 15 Overview
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When society talks about sex work, the conversation is often shaped by assumptions rather than reality. In this thoughtful dialogue, we sit down with sex worker and advocate Jenna Love and sexologist Dr. Giselle Woodley to explore what these discussions miss. From the practicalities of safety and boundaries to the complex relationship between research, policy, and lived experience, this conversation challenges us to think beyond the headlines and examine our own preconceptions about sexuality, agency, and respect.
In This Episode
We explore:
What sex work actually means in practical, everyday terms
How stigma affects not just sex workers
The sophisticated safety practices and boundary negotiations within sex work
Why the victim/deviant binary fails to capture reality
How young people are already navigating sexuality and seeking information
The gap between academic research, policy-making, and people's actual lives
Why authentic sex education might need to include voices we're not hearing
Quotable Moments
"All we're saying we're quite morally neutral. The work is work. That's literally the end of that." - Jenna Love
"I think if we could work on minimising that stigma around sex, we would see a reduction in sexual violence." - Dr. Giselle Woodley
"Sex workers are teaching teens about sex. They're watching porn, and they're learning from [them], so they're teaching about sex." - Dr. Giselle Woodley
"The vast majority of workers don't sit on either end of either of those spectrums [victim or deviant]." - Jenna Love
"Just because you've agreed to something at one point doesn't mean that you're agreeing to it forever." - Jenna Love
"My wish for society is that we can be free from the confines of sexual stigma and taboo because I think we'll have healthier sex lives, less sexual violence, and generally be [healthier]." - Dr. Giselle Woodley
"You truly do not understand things unless you've lived them. And even then, it can be a journey to understanding that." - Jenna Love
"We live in this sort of juxtaposition of like a hypersexualised society, but we're all super sexually suppressed." - Dr. Giselle Woodley
Resources Mentioned
Scarlet Alliance (Australian Sex Workers Association)
Bloom-Ed (Relationships and Sexuality Education advocacy group)
Connect With Our Guests
Jenna Love is a sex worker who has worked in-person for 12 years and online for 8 of those. She is the President of Scarlet Alliance (Australian Sex Workers Association), co-host of Somebody You Love (a podcast about the adult industry), and producer & co-performer in Whore Walk (a sex work history show). Currently studying a Master of Social Justice, Jenna is also polyamorous and a devoted cat mum.
Dr. Giselle Woodley is a lecturer/research fellow in the School of Arts and Humanities at Edith Cowan University in Australia and is a sexologist with a background in Arts and Media. Her PhD research investigated teens' perspectives of Sexually-Explicit Materials (SEM), including pornography, and teens' experiences of their Relationships and Sexuality Education (both at home, school and online). Giselle is a co-founder of Bloom-Ed a Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) advocacy group, and she is particularly interested in the benefits of RSE and real solutions that work in relation to these issues, which ultimately increase individual we
Connect With Us
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A Note on Content
This episode discusses sex work, sexuality, and related topics openly and thoughtfully. It's designed for mature audiences seeking evidence-based conversations that challenge assumptions and centre lived experience. While we discuss sensitive topics, we approach them with respect, nuance, and care.
A Note on Wellbeing
She Speaks is dedicated to amplifying women's voices on self-care and wellbeing from diverse cultural perspectives. While we share research insights and personal experiences, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health.
She Speaks is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government and Department of Communities Women's Grants for a Stronger Future Grants Program.