Is the “sex worker” job damaging to the psyche, or is it how sex workers are perceived in our society that does the damage?
If being a prostitute had been considered a glamorous job (which it may have, in ancient times perhaps) and was still considered a glamorous job where the workers didn’t have to worry about being persecuted, prosecuted, looked down upon, considered “filthy,” or any of the usual stigma’s that are attached to the profession, would they be better adjusted than they are now?
As far as I see it, being a prostitute doesn’t mean that you’re just using your money to make a buck but also that you’re kind of useless, talentless, and unable to do anything but lie on your back for a living. These are things that we, as a society, tell them.
If they were treated with respect, or publicly in demand, or otherwise treated in a positive light instead of a negative one, I would have to wonder how different, mentally, they would be.
I don’t think this actually answers the question so I’ll say for the proper bank roll I’d be more than happy to do the research on this question.