Recently I was doing some volunteer work and unexpectedly came out to one of the other volunteers. We were working together on a task and were making small talk. He was an older man and very timid. At first I thought it was me. I can at times be overly chatty. Soon I realized this was his general nature. He acted shy and slightly nervous to everyone he encountered. Ironic we were paired up for the project I mused.
I asked if he lived in the area and he said he and his wife had a house nearby. This led to conversation about his work. When people start talking about their jobs I start mentally reviewing my choices. When the conversation turns to what I do I have several answers I could go with. In the past I’ve come up with vague responses to working on the phone to being a counselor to being a relationship therapist. I try not to lie about my work and think of it as revealing parts of the truth.
I knew several other volunteers were aware I was a pso. This man did not. As I knew he would, he asked what I did. I told him. He looked at me with a blank expression. Then he asked again. I answered the same. I shrugged my shoulders and made a casual comment about setting my own hours. Then I went back to our shared task. He fumbled over some basic questions about the job and seemed genuinely confused when I explained the concept.
We didn’t dwell on the topic long and soon were engrossed about the volunteer project we were working on. He didn’t treat me different in any way. The entire encounter was casual, almost indifferent. I’m used to people expressing surprise and sometimes delight when I tell them. For those that disapprove even their reactions are animated. To have such a laissez faire reaction is new to me. In a way it was a pleasant surprise. What if one day saying “I’m a sex worker” is met with the same casual acceptance as “I’m a bus driver” or “I’m a physical therapist”. Will it mean we’ve gained widespread acceptance if people are no longer shocked by our work?
Posted by Vixen as PSO Confessions at 11:10 PM CST