This is a fascinating, if somewhat tragic topic, that raises questions about how we view the role of sex workers and how we value the porn industry. The short answer? Not enough. The long answer? Well....here we go.
The porn industry is made out to appear highly glamorous, but, especially for women, this is can just be an illusion. Taking the American porn industry as an example (America is kind of a best of the worst sort of situation here), the prospect of becoming a pornstar is sold on the idea that there is plenty of easy money to be made, so long as you can swallow your pride and bring yourself to do it, and you too can become the next Lisa Ann. This is an attractive prospect to young people in an economy where work conditions are far behind where they should be and the minimum wage is miserably low. However, the average female pornstar's career lasts only aproximatley 3 years (1), with unreliable pay in that time. Pay can be deducted for unforeseen events (having to stop for pain, poop, blood, anything else unplanned for), and better paying jobs being locked behind things you might not be comfortable with. As you become a veteran in the industry, actors often find themselves having to "diversify" to remain relevant, taking on new kinks and fetishes in their film work. This paired with the iffy legality of sex work in the US means your worker rights may not be protected by the government, so it's not wonder actors leave when you'd think they'd just be getting into their stride.
After leaving the industry an actor may not have anything to show for it besides a handful of twitter followers. Mia said in her interview Overfiend posted that she had a "huge gap in her resume" (2) because what do you put there? For most jobs having porn star as your experience may hurt more than help you because of the stigma around the profession, particularly if you're a well known name, like Mia is. Finding a job to last you long term may be almost impossible, let alone the career you want. So many ex actors find themselves just....stuck, and with nothing to show for it.
Legal changes to protect the rights of sex workers are absolutely vital, but it's not the only thing that is necessary to improve the lives of ex porn stars. It's an unfortunate reality that society treats sex worker as not deserving of their own rights as people, denying them work and their dignity. It might take a long time before sex work is accepted as an industry in its own right and we can accept sex workers for who they are, but it's a step that needs to be taken.
This is of course only a very shallow surface level analysis of a big topic of discussion, but it's as good as anywhere to start.
Sources: (1)
http://jonmillward.com/blog/studies/deep...orn-stars/
(2)
https://nypost.com/2019/08/12/mia-khalif...oing-porn/
(3)
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style...69746.html
Hilarious - TIME Magazine Nothing else quite like her - Morgan Freeman
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