If you’re 18 and thinking about stripping read this first.

Making this post because I’ve seen way too many 18 year olds asking about becoming strippers lately. This is coming from someone who started doing sex work the second I turned 18 and started stripping at 19(ish): Wait until you are older.

You just graduated high school you don’t know how the adult world works yet much less the sex work world. At 18 your experience with your own sexuality is limited and sex work really affects how you view it as well as yourself. This is a job that is very hard physically and mentally. It messes with the body image, self esteem, sense of self, and much more of women who were already grown up and developed when they started. Now imagine the permanent effect it has on someone who is still not fully formed as a person and trying to figure themselves out.

You will constantly be compared to other’s bodies, be exposed to drugs and alcohol, be exposed to nasty ass middle aged men who don’t understand the word ‘no’ and will see how much they can get away with, comments will be made about every single thing about you, you will most likely be chastised by your loved ones if they find out, the probability of being sexually assaulted sky rockets, some girls will steal from you, sometimes you will not be treated like a person, and many other things.

This job isn’t how it is portrayed in social media.

If you want to dance wait until you’re a little older, a little more comfortable in your skin, and when you’ve lived a little more. Also do your research.