Adult content creator, model and disability advocate/ educator GoAskAlex made a featured appearance to discuss ‘Neurodiversity & Disability in Sex Work’ for the new podcast On the Whorizon.
Hosts Jessie Sage and MelRose Michaels discuss the limitations of ‘conventional’ jobs and how sex work offers the flexibility and financial means to make money because of disabilities or caretaking for those with disabilities.
“My passion is speaking about and working to promote the representation of underrepresented bodies in pornography,” said Alex, who was already an established and successful performer for six years prior to her 2019 ileostomy surgery, which involved the removal of her large bowel and implemented a stoma (opening), – requiring the use of a pouch attached to her abdomen.
Alex explained that the discussions between doctors and patients post-surgery generally don’t include the topics of sex and intimacy. “The way our hospitals are set up… you’re really in and out, and the focus is on efficiency rather than having that patient care… I don’t think the doctors really wanted to have that conversation. I don’t think anybody was really volunteering to have an awkward conversation about sexuality.”
She added that “it’s still really hard performing and getting naked; I still have a lot of insecurity and I don’t think that’s ever going to go away. I look at the way my body used to look and I feel envy for that… when I’m performing, I try to find underwear and lingerie… that makes me feel more comfortable.
“For other people who are my fans, they might say they don’t even notice it or it’s just there and it’s not positive or negative – it’s just there, it doesn’t matter. And that is what I want, that’s my goal, but of course mentally it’s always there for me – the thing that you’re most insecure about on your body… but it’s right there on camera and you can’t hide it.
“There are so many sex workers with disabilities, chronic illness, mental health – our industry is saturated with people who have these conditions, and the representation of that is very low in comparison to how many people are living with these things… people with disabilities still have sex, still have pleasure and can still be sexy.”
To listen to the On the Whorizon interview in full, visit Anchor, Podcasts and YouTube.
