As part of our mission to normalize sex and sexuality, this series features a collection of people whose jobs are in some way tied to sex—what we here at QM refer to as “The Business of Sex.” Our goal is to underscore just how many different jobs there are that are in some way involved in this business, and to show that the people who do them are a diverse (and interesting!) bunch of regular human beings. We hope to challenge the social stigma currently surrounding sex and certain sex-related professions by showing there are countless ways people’s livelihoods are entwined with the notion of sex.
Despite the increasing destigmatization, a Berlin stripper finds the dialogue around exploitation a trickier dance to pull off.
Despite the vicarious trauma, an introverted sexuality educator helps others reconnect with selves lost, frozen, and disowned.
How does horniness cloud our decision-making? A sex researcher’s burning questions help throw water on stigma and misinformation.
Costumer, designer, and burlesque dancer Miss Darby Doll wants your attention. For that, she has a little number or two.
A cadaver inspired her interest in the body, but it was lived experiences that birthed Viva La Vulva.
This President of an alt-lifestyle group is caught between keeping up appearances in her role while keeping it off her resume.
Blazing trails and maryjane alike, pioneering trans man Buck Angel is ready to talk it out with anyone.
“What do you do for a living?” “Oh, you know, I give tours of a sex doll factory, among other things.”
Sex ed has not only failed our students — it’s failed their parents, too. That’s where Dr. Jess comes in.
Running a small BDSM business can sometimes feel like you’re up shit creek — but you’ll always have paddles.
Contemporary philosophy has long been stagnating, but one scholar is trying to breathe life – and love – back into it.
A onetime actress and porn queen’s next act? Helping former sex workers get reacquainted with intimacy.
This sex worker and mechanic gives good radio. But to get full service, you’ll need to through a screen.
Running one of the fastest-growing adult platforms ain’t easy, but there’s no place Bella French would rather be.
The pivot from academic to sex writer and slut extraordinaire was the best decision Zachary Zane ever made.
If you want to learn how to do something well, you want someone with experience and expertise to teach you. Shouldn’t that apply to sex, too?
Candace loves dancing, so doing it for a living was a no-brainer. If people want to judge her for doing it on a pole, that’s on them.
Making sexy cartoons might be fun, but it’s still a hard day’s work. Fortunately, Sonya’s nights are free to do what she pleases.
When you’re in the vibrator business, your job is literally to make sure the customer is satisfied. It turns out that selling them can be pretty satisfying, too.
It’s hard for men to trust a doctor with the most intimate parts of their body, but Dr. Petar takes pride in putting them at ease.
Working as an adult entertainer is tough enough without having to handle the business side, too. That’s where Tony lends a hand.
From submitting an article on a whim to editing the world’s largest bi publication, Talia Squires has been a beacon of bi visibility.
Dissatisfied with the other kink podcasts on offer, minimus maximus threw his own ball gag into the ring.
Kristel Penn manages 30+ trans porn sites, a marketing company, night school, and, somehow, a few hours’ sleep.
Treating pelvic floor dysfunction may not sound sexy, but if you do it right, the results certainly are.
She’s been dismissed, disdained, and called the Antichrist, but she’s proud to preserve the history of erotica.
For Kevin Hsu, the choice between studying sexuality or the circadian rhythms of fruit flies was no choice at all.