Surely that ratio is much higher than 1:1. The amount of camgirls having "fun" and independently successful escorts has to be relatively small compared to the amount of average sex workers, many of whom didn't exactly choose that life and don't find it to be very "empowering".

Not sure if much higher. I do photography and spent time snapping (street photos!) some girls in the sex industry in Asia. For them it's mainly about money. They could get an office job but they - and I quote - "tried...don't like".

These are countries with low unemployment, but also low pay, so sex work appeals as a lucrative (and less boring) alternative.

Many of this women were single mothers and the money was sent home. Few, from what I could tell, used drugs. And all were very strong people - I think that line of work requires it.

So in some parts of the world prostitution is just another job.

Is this the same everywhere? Unfortunately not. And I'm sure the industry as a whole is filled with tales of sorrow.

Isn't that similar to all those people that wake up at 6 every morning to do the lowest of the lowest of jobs? The only difference is that their work is not related to sex.

Heaven forbid that someone actually enjoy the work they do with their bodies... or have we forgotten that all these activities are rooted in the giving and receiving of pleasure?

There are advocacy groups out there campaigning for sex workers' rights, staffed by sex workers and former sex workers, and I would think that if the profession were really so bad for independent providers then groups like this either wouldn't exist or would have a very different character.

Why should you (or anyone else) have the right to decide that for them? It should be their decision.