A 19-year-old student named Kendra Sunderland sits in her university library as she starts a live chat on one of the many ‘camgirl’ sites that have become popular. She’s a ‘cam girl’ – she broadcasts sexually explicit videos to online audiences, who pay virtual tokens to watch her strip and masturbate in real time or enter a private room where they can chat with the camgirl and engage in other sexual activities.
It might seem odd that men are willing to spend money on female beauty when porn is freely available on the internet, but cam girls offer something that porn doesn’t – connection. Most cam girls have a history of physical or emotional abuse in their lives, which is why they’re willing to trade their bodies for money. This has made them incredibly hard workers, often spending eight hours a day on the job and even taking on additional jobs. They’re also working in an environment that is highly addictive – like casinos, the majority of cam sites make the bulk of their profit from a small percentage of users – the “whale” – who are paying for dopamine hits.
In addition to chatting with fans and members, they’re required to perform sexually explicit acts in private shows. This is where the big money comes from, but it’s a traumatic experience. They’re subjected to a barrage of sexual requests, and often they have to engage in acts they don’t enjoy to satisfy their clients. It’s not uncommon for a cam girl to receive threats of physical harm and doxxing if they don’t do what the customer wants, which can be extremely distressing.
The work is physically exhausting as well – most cam girls are required to wear lingerie and have an open sex position for the majority of their show. They’re also exposed to the public, allowing them to get trolled and abused by online haters. Some women also work in alternative modelling and prostitution off camera. And as the industry becomes more regulated, some cam girls are finding it harder to find work.
In our capitalistic society, everything has a monetary value and female beauty is no exception. This is why so many women choose to become cam girls – they can be paid for their natural beauty and it’s also an easy way to earn money. They’re also selling their product to the perfect customer – horny men who are willing to buy whatever it is that they want from them. This is a powerful and empowering role for women, but it doesn’t come without its risks. In fact, many of these women are being exploited for their bodies as a form of digital slavery and this is not OK. Especially when it’s to the detriment of their mental health and self-esteem. They deserve better.