Working: My Life as a Prostitute

Working: My Life as a Prostitute is a memoir by Dolores French detailing her experiences in sex work during the 1970s and 1980s. French operated as a high-end escort in Atlanta while also becoming an advocate for sex worker rights and founding HIRE (Hooking Is Real Employment). The book chronicles French's path from her early life to her decision to enter sex work and her subsequent career developments. She documents the day-to-day realities of running her business, interactions with clients, and her parallel activism work with sex worker organizations. French presents candid observations about class, gender, and power dynamics within the sex industry. She examines the intersection of sex work with broader social movements of the era while maintaining analytical distance from both pro- and anti-prostitution camps. This memoir raises questions about labor rights, bodily autonomy, and the complex relationship between personal choice and societal constraints. Through French's experiences, the text challenges conventional narratives about sex work while avoiding either condemnation or glorification of the industry.

Readers consider this an honest, straightforward account of sex work that avoids sensationalism. The book offers detailed insights into the business and operational aspects of prostitution while maintaining a matter-of-fact tone. Readers appreciated: - The practical, non-judgmental discussion of safety practices - French's political activism and advocacy for sex workers' rights - Clear explanations of pricing, client relations, and business management Common criticisms: - Some sections read like a how-to manual rather than a memoir - Limited personal/emotional reflection - Dated references and cultural context (published 1988) Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (153 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (21 ratings) Reader quote: "This isn't a titillating expose or tragic redemption story - it's a pragmatic look at sex work as a business, written by someone who treated it as such." - Goodreads reviewer [Note: Limited review data available online due to book's age]

Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women by Alexa Albert A physician's immersive account chronicles three years inside Nevada's legal brothels through interviews with sex workers, customers, and staff.

Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work by Melissa Gira Grant A sex worker's perspective examines the intersection of labor rights, policy, and the realities of commercial sex work in modern society.

Sex Work: Writings by Women in the Sex Industry by Frédérique Delacoste, Priscilla Alexander First-person narratives from sex workers across different sectors of the industry present unfiltered accounts of their experiences and perspectives.

In My Skin by Kate Holden A memoir traces one woman's path from middle-class student to heroin addiction to sex work in Melbourne's brothels.

G-String Divas by Lily Burana A journalist's memoir recounts her return to stripping in order to document the lives and experiences of dancers across America's strip clubs.

🔹 Dolores French founded HIRE (Hooking Is Real Employment), one of the first sex worker advocacy organizations in the United States, in 1984. 🔹 The book details French's transformation from a middle-class Southern girl to an expensive Atlanta call girl, and later to a prominent activist for sex workers' rights. 🔹 French collaborated with writer Linda Lee on the book, who helped capture both the gritty reality and philosophical aspects of life in the sex industry. 🔹 The memoir sparked controversy upon its 1988 release for its unapologetic stance on prostitution as legitimate work and its criticism of laws criminalizing sex work. 🔹 While working as a prostitute, French also earned a degree in psychology from Georgia State University, which informed her perspective on both her clients and the nature of sex work.