Charlie Forde: Let's End Job Discrimination Against Sex Workers
by A/E Welcome
I’m going to be honest and admit that, when initially looking at Holly’s lineup this September, Charlie Forde was the guest who caught my eye the least. I wasn’t familiar with her at the time, so my intense interest in sex education and ethical non-monogamy (plus my…deep appreciation for the work of Emma Rose) drew my attention to Holly’s other guests. Yet, when I finally moved on to Charlie’s episode, I was surprised to realize that it actually sparked my interest the most.
Charlie is charming and personable, with a slightly nerdy girl-next-door feeling that made me as shocked as Holly to realize she’s often billed as a MILF. Even more compelling, though, is her “double life” in porn and veterinary medicine. It’s not uncommon to hear about adult stars who used to do XY&Z, but usually those previous ambitions are left behind once someone gains success in the industry. Holly herself gestures at this fact during the interview. Holly assumed, understandably, that Charlie had left her veterinary career behind because of porn, mentioning that many would be (nonsensically) disturbed by her “throwing away” that opportunity in favor of the adult industry. Yet, in truth, Charlie is a relatively rare example of a successful adult star who has pursued both careers at once for years and only put her veterinary work on hold because of her move to the states.
How has Charlie been able to balance her life as a veterinarian and adult star? Hard work, dedication, and exhaustingly intense schedules are part of it. Yet, even with passion and ambitious work ethics, many aren’t given the space to balance multiple career paths like Charlie has. The key to Charlie’s double-life is her almost miraculous protection from anti-sexworker-discrimination. As has been discussed many times on the show (and this blog), sex workers (even those whose work is entirely legal) face immense stigma and discrimination. Though this manifests in all areas of life, one major place of impact is employment.
As we’ve seen time and time again, work in the adult industry tends to leave a permanent brand of stigma on those who participate. Though some stars like Sasha Grey manage to “escape the black hole” and branch out into other industries to much success, many performers become pigeonholed in Adult purely because of how sex workers are treated by the general public. Though stigma unfortunately affects sex workers of all niches, it’s an especially pressing issue for those in porn because of how public their work is (especially in a world full of anti-sexworker harassment and doxxing). This means that many performers are fired or forced to resign from their non-industry jobs and find it prohibitively difficult to advance in any field other than Adult. That’s not even to mention the ways that being “outed” as an adult performer can impact one’s other pursuits and education. To make things worse, the anti-porn crowd tends to use these facts to further attack the industry, framing the problem as victims unable to “escape” a harrowing predicament rather than professionals being denied other work opportunities after participating in a stigmatized field. Thankfully, successful adult stars can often still support themselves with only industry work, but finances are just one reason this discrimination matters.
Yes, adult entertainment can be a lucrative path, and one full of opportunities as Charlie’s experience as a business owner exemplifies. Yet, many folks who are drawn to sex work aren’t only in it for the money (or acting out their daddy issues, despite what anti-porn jerks might say). As Charlie describes it, porn is a fantastic space for artistic exploration and self-expression. She was always an artsy kid, and she was drawn to porn as a cornucopia of “incredible sensations,” unique connections with others, and fascinating knowledge about her own and others’ bodies. This isn’t exclusive to Charlie, either. My personal favorite episode of Holly’s, her 2020 interview with Sasha Grey, makes it clear that the immensely popular ex-star came into the industry with a palpable hunger for erotic art and pushing the limits of her embodied experience.
Personally, I strongly relate to this desire. I’ve always been an artistic person and my art has practically always explored and utilized the erotic and “obscene.” I find genuine, deep beauty in so much adult entertainment, especially that made by dedicated creatives with genuine passion for porn. So, when I think about how many people (including myself, so far) are dissuaded from pursuing those dreams by the impact of stigma and discrimination, it brings tears to my eyes. I don’t just feel for those who have to choose between their adult ambitions and other passions in their lives; I mourn all the potential art and entertainment we lose because of this. I want to know what my coworkers, friends and neighbors would create if they didn’t think it would ruin their other opportunities. I want to see the boundless expanse of pleasure-inducing expression that could exist if only our culture didn’t force us to choose between sexwork and almost everything else.
Yet, I have genuine hope that things will change. Really, I think they’re already changing. The way Charlie sees it, the main reason she was allowed to practice medicine while also producing porn was the veterinary field’s desperation. “Vet industries don’t have the luxury of discriminating against their vets because there’s hardly any [vets] as it is.” With a shortage of qualified and willing veterinarians, it was easier for Charlie to show that her participation in porn didn’t change her knowledge or ability to help animals. As unfortunate as it is, many industries are facing worker shortages, not just the veterinary field. According to the US Chamber Of Commerce, US unemployment is at its lowest in over fifty years, and there are still 8.8 Million job openings. In fact, if every single unemployed person in America found work, there would still be 3.5 million job openings to fill. Many Americans feel newly emboldened to chase what they actually want out of life, instead of competing for pennies in cubicles. Even more excitingly, platforms like OnlyFans and ManyVids are making DIY adult entertainment more accessible – and potentially less stigmatized as well. If everyone knew at least one person personally who made porn, and many vital jobs needed to be filled, how long could everyday employers keep justifying discrimination against sexworkers?