Not all sex workers are forced into it. In fact, some choose it and satisfied with their jobs (which is how they see their work - as just another job and what they do as work). Of course, we don't want to support trafficking or non-consensual sex work of any sort and should be doing whatever we can to stop that, but rather than deciding for women if what they do is degrading, or unsavory, the right thing to do is to ask them and let them choose for themselves. When the state of New York actually did that, they realized that their stance on prostitution was largely making things worse and not better and decided to for the most part, stop prosecuting sex workers, while still going after pimps and traffickers. Philadelphia and Baltimore have also followed suit.

In addition, many men go to sex workers for more than sex. They go to be listened to, validated, and have companionship because they are for, whatever reason, not getting that in their lives. If we are indeed going to have compassion for each other, I think it would be wise to understand that this dynamic is much more complex and nuanced than just "loser" men taking advantage of women who are being preyed upon and exploited. Although that certainly takes place at times, it's definitely not the entire story.

In addition, women and couples also hire sex workers - some of them male. Not nearly on the same level as men do, of course, but it speaks to the complexity of this topic which goes far beyond the impressions that the average person has about sex work and sex workers.