The word “cam girl” has become synonymous with stripping online for a fee, but for many of these women, the term also carries an underlying tone of sexual exploitation and even sex trafficking. While the majority of cam models work for themselves, there are also studios where women are housed and forced to perform sexual acts on webcam for men who pay a fee to enter. The reality of camming is much different than the Hollywood portrayal of it, which has led to films like Cam, a Netflix original starring Orange Is the New Black’s Madeline Brewer, where she plays a cam girl named Alice who becomes obsessed with internet fame.
It’s an intense and fascinating film, but it also normalizes camming as a form of naughty Instagram or remunerated exhibitionism rather than the dangerous industry that it is for most of these girls. Meeting Kate and Aella, who are both Seattle-based cam girls, confirmed this point. They are both fiercely independent and self-promotional, with their own websites and thousands of Twitter followers. However, both of them are also incredibly vulnerable and open about their sexual histories.
For Kate, who grew up in an abusive household, her sexual freedom came from exploring her own sexuality and experimenting with different ways to express it. Her fascination with nudity and erotic play eventually turned into her becoming a cam model, and she credits it for saving her life. Aella, on the other hand, has always been comfortable being seductive and was performing naked photosets for friends before she became a cam girl. She sees her webcam work as a form of art and focuses on humor and a unique blend of comedy and nudity in her shows.
While some cam models do have romantic relationships, they are very few and far between. In most cases, these women have a strong desire to be financially independent, and they tend to choose this career path over traditional jobs that would offer them better benefits and stability. However, they are not immune to the sexism that they encounter in the industry either. Many of them have experienced unwelcome advances and are forced to deal with sexism at the hands of their male clients.
If you’re in a relationship and have found yourself spending time on Chaturbate, the first thing to do is talk about it with your partner. It might be uncomfortable at first, but if you’re serious about your relationship, it’s important to discuss these things. Otherwise, you might find yourself having an emotional affair with a naked stranger on the internet.