"Selling Sex" director Dehne: "There is still hatred against prostitutes"

Miriam Dehne, director of the six-part ARD series Selling Sex, has spoken out about the ongoing stigma surrounding women who work voluntarily in the escort industry. The show, set to air on Friday at 11:55 PM and available in the ARD media library, follows the story of Nelly, a business administration student played by Ella Morgen, who takes on the alias Aurora and begins working for an escort service. The series explores themes of sex as a lucrative business, personal desire, self-determination, and a world in which men often play secondary roles. Dehne emphasized during an interview that she aims to challenge existing stereotypes about the escort industry. She noted that despite efforts to change public perception, there remains a persistent stigma against women who choose this line of work. Many still face judgment, with critics suggesting they should seek “real” employment instead. Dehne questioned the assumption behind such statements, asking what exactly constitutes a “real” job. She acknowledged that there are indeed cases of exploitation, human trafficking, and forced prostitution, but argued these issues are often overshadowed by a one-sided narrative. This perspective, according to Dehne, frames all sex workers as victims in need of rescue, reinforcing a harmful stereotype. Her goal is to highlight the diversity within the industry, including women who enter the field willingly and find fulfillment and financial success in their work. The distinction between voluntary sex work and coercion is crucial, Dehne explained. However, she pointed out that these two realities are frequently conflated. In Germany, discussions around updating the Prostitution Act have gained momentum, with proposed changes under consideration. Dehne expressed her opposition to the Nordic model, which criminalizes clients rather than sex workers themselves. She argued that this approach worsens conditions for sex workers by pushing them further into the shadows and increasing social stigma. It also deprives the state of potential tax revenue. Dehne highlighted the lack of representation of sex workers in policy-making bodies, noting that committees tasked with revising laws often include social workers and doctors but rarely sex workers themselves. This absence, she suggested, reflects the weak political influence of those directly affected by these policies. Dehne observed that societal hostility toward sex workers persists, fueled in part by individuals who view the profession as morally unacceptable. She noted that this resistance is often driven by men, particularly those who consume sexual services. For many, the idea of treating sex as a form of labor challenges deeply held beliefs about the sanctity of the body and sexuality. The series centers on Nelly’s journey into the high-end escort world, driven by curiosity, desire, and the lure of substantial earnings. Dehne stressed that the economic aspect of sex work is a central reality, raising questions about how society defines respectable jobs. She posed the question of who decides what constitutes a legitimate profession and why certain forms of labor are deemed more worthy than others. The show seeks to explore the complex interplay between personal agency, market value, and societal norms. By focusing on a young woman navigating a world where her physical presence and performance hold significant economic worth, Selling Sex aims to provoke reflection on the broader implications of how society values different types of labor.