Dolores French

Dolores French is an American author and former sex worker known primarily for her 1988 memoir "Working: My Life as a Prostitute." As an activist and advocate, she founded HIRE (Hooking Is Real Employment), an organization that promoted sex worker rights. French gained prominence in the 1980s for her public speaking and media appearances discussing sex work decriminalization and labor rights. She appeared on various talk shows including Phil Donahue and testified before the World Whores Congress in Brussels regarding prostitution law reform. Her memoir provided an unvarnished account of her experiences as a high-end escort in Atlanta, exploring themes of feminism, sexual politics, and labor rights. The book stood apart from other works in the genre by focusing on practical and political aspects of sex work rather than sensationalism. Beyond her writing and activism, French earned a degree in Psychology from Georgia State University and worked as a counselor. She maintained that sex work should be treated as legitimate labor and argued for workplace protections and destigmatization of the profession.

Readers noted French's straightforward, unsensationalized approach to documenting sex work. The memoir drew interest for addressing practical elements like finances, safety protocols, and daily routines rather than salacious details. Readers appreciated: - Matter-of-fact writing style without moral judgments - Detailed examination of legal and labor issues - Personal insights into clientele motivations - Balance of political analysis with personal narrative Common criticisms: - Uneven pacing in later chapters - Insufficient exploration of emotional impacts - Dated references to 1980s culture and laws On Goodreads, the book maintains a 3.7/5 rating from 112 reviews. Amazon reviews average 4.1/5 from 28 ratings. One reader called it "refreshingly free of both glamorization and victimhood narratives." Another noted it "reads more like a workplace memoir than an exposé." Limited review data exists as the book has been out of print since the 1990s.

Working Girl: An Inside Look at the Sex Business (1988) A first-person memoir describing French's experiences as a sex worker and sex-worker rights activist in Atlanta during the 1980s, including her founding of HIRE (Hooking Is Real Employment).

Carol Leigh chronicles her experiences as a sex worker and activist through memoirs and academic writing. She founded COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics) and documents the history of sex worker rights movements.

Tracy Quan writes semi-autobiographical novels about her life as a call girl in New York City. Her work explores themes of class, relationships, and economics in the sex industry.

Annie Sprinkle combines personal narrative with sex education in her books about sex work and sexuality. She transitioned from porn performer to author and performance artist while documenting her experiences.

Xaviera Hollander wrote "The Happy Hooker" and subsequent memoirs about her career running an escort service. Her books merge personal stories with social commentary about sexuality and commerce.

Catherine La Croix published accounts of her work in Nevada's legal brothels. Her writings focus on the business operations and daily realities of legalized prostitution.