Part II- Navigating the World of Sex Work
~Cracking the Code~
In Canada, the world of sex work operates within a unique legal framework that can be a bit confusing. While engaging in sex work itself is not illegal, the activities surrounding it, such as purchasing sexual services, advertising, or procuring, are prohibited. This creates a "grey area" where selling companionship is legally acceptable, but including sexual services in that offer can potentially conflict with prostitution-related laws. Check out this super informative recent article for more information:
Is Prostitution Legal in Canada? A Comprehensive Analysis
Understanding the Legality of Prostitution in Canada: A Detailed Overview October 20, 2023
The term "sex work" encompasses a wide range of roles within the industry, including but not limited to escorts, adult film performers, online content creators, and live streamers. This field is as diverse as it is complex, encompassing a wide range of jobs and services. But let’s get clear about one thing:
‘SEX WORK IS WORK!’
To help you navigate the world of sex work as either a provider or a client, I have compiled a list of commonly used abbreviations and sex work terms used in the industry. It is essential to note that this glossary is not exhaustive, and the specific terms and their meanings may vary depending on the context, geographic location, and individuals involved.
*Words to the wise: Never assume a shared understanding of abbreviations. Always confirm the details of what a provider includes in their service offering or session to avoid misunderstandings.
GLOSSARY
69: Sex position in which the sexual partners lay head to toe and mutually perform oral sex on each other.
A-level: Anal sex (also known as Greek)
Anal: Sexual play that can include anal intercourse, where a penis or sex toy penetrates the anus, or other forms of stimulation, such as fingers, tongues, or toys. Hot tip: Use lots of lube! Communicate and respect boundaries.
ATM: Ass to mouth, anal sex immediately followed by oral
AR: Anal rimming refers to licking of the anal area
BBS: Bareback sex, vaginal or anal sex without a condom (*I do not condone this practice due to the high risks if contracting or passing STI’s and other infections)
BBBJ: Bare back blow job, oral sex without a condom (*I do not condone this practice due to the high risks if contracting or passing STI’s and other infections)
BBBJTC: Bare back blow job to completion (*I do not condone this practice due to the high risks of contracting or passing STI’s and other infections)
BBW: Big Beautiful Woman refers to women who are thicc, voluptuous, and curvaceous.
B & D: Bondage and discipline
BDSM: Bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism, masochism, describes a wide range of activities – always get more information
Body rub practitioner: People who work as a Body Rub practitioner means that they offer some sort of ‘massage’ as part of their session as well as additional ‘services’ including Happy Endings and full service. They are not “Massage Therapists”- who have intense training, are certified, and usually licensed which requires registering under a professional association.
Some providers are Certified in Massage Therapy (such as me) but simply choose to not be registered or licensed as such. Under their professional codes of conduct, Massage Therapists are not allowed to engage in any type of sexual touching or activity with their clients.
Body rub workers usually work out of “spas” or “studios” and are required to pay room fees to the spa. This may help you understand why rates may seem higher in the spas and studios because the providers must cover these fees. I have worked at spas where the room fee was $100/client.
In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, we work as independent contractors who rent the rooms with access to supplies and are not actual employees of the spa. To work as a Body Rub practitioner, we must be legally licensed by the City of Edmonton. This requires special training and a clean criminal records check. I will discuss this in a future blog post, so stay tuned!
Bondage: Refers to activities involving tying up or restraining one partner.
BJ: Blow job, oral sex on a penis; fellatio
BJTC: Blow job to completion, giving oral sex until the client cums; with or without a condom
BLS: Ball licking and sucking
BS: Body slide. A service provider slides their naked body over the client’s, often with the aid of oil or gel.
CBJ: Covered blow job refers to oral sex with a condom
CBT: Cock and ball torture, a BDSM sexual activity that involves torture or inflicting pain on genitals
CD: Cross-dressing may include the client or service provider dressing as a different gender during a booking, and could also include the service provider “teaching” the client how to play a particular gender role
CIM: Cum in mouth, refers to cumming in a service provider’s mouth without a condom
CIMWS: Cum in mouth with swallowing
Clitoris: One of the most misunderstood and mishandled parts of a woman’s body. The clitoris is a small, sensitive organ located at the top of the vulva, where the inner lips meet. It's often compared to the tip of an iceberg because what you see is just a small part of a much larger structure beneath the surface. Its primary function is to provide pleasure.
Highly Sensitive: The clitoris contains thousands of nerve endings, making it more sensitive than many other parts of the body. This sensitivity is why gentle touch is often best.
Visible and Hidden Parts: While you can see the glans (the small, visible tip), the clitoris extends internally, with legs and bulbs on either side of the vaginal opening. So, for some women, pressure around the vaginal opening and alongside the main clitoral bud are also zones to explore for their pleasure.
Unlike many other body parts, the clitoris's sole purpose is to provide sexual pleasure. It can play a crucial part in female sexual arousal and orgasm.
Some women may not enjoy clitoral stimulation. That’s ok.
Clitoral Stimulation: Start with a gentle touch and communicate with your partner about what feels good. Explore different types of touch, such as circular motions or light tapping. Consider using lubrication to enhance comfort and sensation. Many women do not want you to “mix things up” when it feels really good. If we are about to orgasm, do not take that as a sign to change pressure and technique unless we tell you to do so. Nothing sucks worse than being robbed of an O because someone thinks they need to rub your clit like a lottery scratch ticket when you say you are about to cum. Do-not-be-this-guy/gal.
COF / COB: Cum on face/cum on breasts/cum on body; pulling the penis out of someone’s mouth/vagina/arse and cumming over chest, face, back, etc
DATY: Dining at the ‘Y’, oral sex on a vulva (the outer part of the vagina); cunnilingus
DATO: See ‘rimming’
DP: Double penetration, either penetrating two orifices at once, which may include two people, or penetration of one orifice with two things. These acts could include the mouth, vagina and/or anus.
DDP: Double-digit penetration, one finger in the vagina, the other in the anus
DFK: Deep French kissing, passionate kissing with tongues
DT: Deep throat, taking the entire length of a penis in one’s mouth during oral sex
Escort (Independent escort): These individuals work independently and provide outcalls to homes, hotels, and other locations. Like Body Rub practitioners here in Edmonton, we must be legally licensed by the City of Edmonton to work as an Escort. This legally requires special training and a clean criminal records check. Some escorts work under an agency that helps with their advertising and finds clients for a fee.
Escort agencies: Agencies act as intermediaries, matching clients with escorts based on their preferences and availability. Escort agencies typically receive a fee for their services, either directly from the client or through the escort, who then pays the agency a portion of their earnings. In plain terms- they act like kind of like licensed pimps for the escorts.
Facial: Ejaculating on a face
FE: Female ejaculation, also known as squirting or g-spot ejaculation. The ejaculation of fluid from the urethra.
Filming: Filming or recording of a sexual act *Filming or taking photos without consent is illegal and a plain shitty thing to do. Don’t be a dick*
Fire and ice: Refers to applying hot and cold sensations, either directly to the genitals or via the mouth during oral sex. For example, switching between hot and cold sensations such as hot tea and an ice cube. This can be part of a CBT experience.
Fisting: Penetration of a whole hand inside the vagina or anus
FK: French kissing
Foot fetish: A sexual desire and gratification focused on feet or shoes, may involve a foot job or kissing and licking of toes
Foot job: Similar to a hand job but performed with feet, usually with oil or lube stroking a penis between the arches of two feet either as foreplay or until completion
French: Oral sex
FS: Full service, usually means ‘penetrative intercourse’ (ie. PIV), but some clients or establishments might be referring to a ‘complete’ service, including massage, oral and sex.
Gagging: Gagging or choking on an erect penis or sometimes fingers
GFE: Girlfriend experience, acting like a girlfriend; sensual, friendly, cuddly. May include services such as sex, French kissing, mutual oral sex. *Inclusions of the service may vary between providers.
Greek: Anal sex
GS: Golden shower, urinating on body or in mouth, either giving or receiving. Generally, they’ll provide a plastic mat, or you’ll be asked to keep this in the shower, and they’ll request you drink lots of water beforehand. It’s a must to organise this in advance. Not something you can just decide to do spur of the moment
G-Spot:
Understanding the G-Spot: A Simple Guide - Think of the G-spot as a special pleasure zone inside a woman's body. It's located a few inches inside the vagina, on the front wall, towards the belly. When stimulated correctly, it can create intense pleasure and potentially lead to powerful orgasms.
Finding the G-Spot: Imagine the motion of curling your fingers in a "come here" gesture. This can help you locate and stimulate the area. The texture might feel slightly different from the surrounding tissue, often described as a bit more ridged or spongy.
What to do once you find it- Stimulating the G-spot can lead to a different type of orgasm than clitoral stimulation, adding variety to sexual experiences. For many women, it can enhance overall sexual satisfaction and intimacy. Communicate openly with your partner; ask her what feels good. Take your time exploring with gentle and gradual pressure. Combine G-spot stimulation with other forms of touch of other erogenous zones for a more rounded experience. Some women may not find G-spot stimulation as pleasurable as others, highlighting the importance of individual preference.
Happy ending: Hand job after massage.
HJ: Hand Job, hand relief; using your hand to masturbate the client
HuCow: a sexual fetish that combines kinks, including lactation, objectification, and domination, to literally milk enthusiasts into submission.
Italian: Rubbing penis between buttocks.
JOI: Jerk-off Instructions- giving explicit instructions to the client that they must follow while they masturbate to completion.
Licensed provider: In Canada, some municipalities have bylaws regulating certain aspects of the sex trade, like social escort services. These bylaws may require licensing and specific operating conditions. In Canada, a licensed sex worker generally refers to someone who provides sexual services for compensation and operates within the bounds of the law, specifically in areas where local regulations or bylaws may exist.
In Edmonton, Alberta, body rub centres and practitioners are required to obtain a licence under the City's Business Licence Bylaw. This licensing is part of a broader framework for regulating adult-oriented businesses, intended to promote safety and harm reduction. The licensing process involves a mandatory information course, police background checks, and adherence to specific operating requirements.
LM: a lingam massage is a tantric form of sexual activity that involves massaging the penis. A lingam massage relies on eye contact, deep breathing and genitalia stimulation to bring partners closer together. Giving a lingam massage involves more time and technique than a basic hand job.
LK: Light kissing
Low-volume provider: This is a subjective definition for many. Some use it as a tactic to appear ‘more exclusive’ to potential clients. For myself, it means that I am very selective about who I accept as clients, and I do not take many appointments. So, even if I am working a studio shift with walk-ins, I may only accept one client that day. I have a very full schedule and life outside of this work. I am a single parent, FT student, small business owner, work PT, and I also volunteer. This impacts my availability and capacity to take appointments, which automatically limits the number of clients I can realistically see a week. This is a great article discussing the concept of “LVP”. https://andra-porter.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-low-volume-provider/
MILF: ‘Mom I’d like to fuck’. Describes a sexy woman, typically a mother, who is usually several years older than the person using the term.
MFF: Male/Female/Female, threesome involving one male and two females
MMF: Male/Male/Female, threesome involving two males and one female
Mutual French: Both parties give and reciprocate oral sex. If done at the same time is called ‘69’
Mutual Natural French: Both parties give and receive unprotected oral sex
MSOG: ‘Multiple shots on goal’ refers to a client orgasming multiple times within a booking
NSA: No strings attached, no serious relationships, just a hook-up
OWO: Oral without, a blow job without a condom (refer to BBBJ)
Pegging: Using a strap-on dildo to have anal sex with a partner.
PIV: stands for “penis-in-vagina,” which refers to heterosexual sex. It’s often used interchangeably with the acronym “sex,” and it’s generally understood as a synonym for vaginal intercourse.
PSE: Porn star experience, a sexual encounter that is similar to what you would see in a mainstream pornographic film. Usually involves a range of sexual positions, louder moaning, dirty talk, deep throating/gagging and light spanking. *The inclusions of a PSE vary between service providers.
R&T: Rub and tug, massage with hand relief
Rimming: Licking around the the anus
Russian: Rubbing the penis between breasts, sometimes until climax (also known as Spanish
Sexting: Legal sexting between consenting adults (18+) is generally legal, as long as the images are created and shared with mutual consent. This includes situations where individuals create and share intimate images or videos with each other for their private use. However, it can become illegal if the images or videos are shared without consent or if a minor is involved. It also can become illegal if it involves elements of exploitation, such as extortion, harassment, or bullying. If you are unsure about the legal implications of sexting, consult with resources like Kids Help Phone or the RCMP.
Sex Worker – A term that encapsulates all jobs in the field of providing sexual services or sex industry. Sex workers can be prostitutes, escorts, porn performers, online content producers, live streamers etc.
Snowballing: The act of transferring semen or cum from one person’s mouth to another
Spanish: Rubbing the penis between breasts, sometimes until climax (also known as Russian)
Squirting: Also known as female ejaculation or g-spot ejaculation. Beware, some providers fake this and will just pee (yes, I know of one or two of these ladies).
Stealthing: Don’t be an asshole. This is a Criminal Act punishable by law- It is sexual violence, it is sexual assault, it is a form of rape. Stealthing is the removal of a condom or other barrier mid-sex without the consent of the other person or people involved. The term can also be used to refer to a person damaging a condom before or during application without their sexual partner(s) knowledge or consent so that it becomes less effective at preventing pregnancy or STI transmission.
Strap on: A dildo designed to be worn, usually with a harness, to penetrate a sexual partner
Strip tease: An erotic dance where the service provider undresses for the client in a teasing fashion
Tea bagging: Placing balls in the mouth or on the face of a partner
Thicc: A deliberately misspelled version of "thick," used to describe someone, often a woman, with a full, curvy, and attractive figure, especially with a noticeable butt and waist. It's generally used as a compliment,
Toy show: A masturbation show using sex toys, including vibrators
Tromboning: An act where the service provider kneels behind the client and licks their anus while masturbating their erect penis
TTM: Testicular tongue massage
Water sports: See golden shower (GS), but also can involve many sexual activities that involve urine
YMMV: Your mileage may vary" (YMMV) is a common disclaimer used to indicate that an experience or opinion may not be the same for everyone. It acknowledges that individual circumstances and perspectives differ, so what works for one person may not work for another. In the context of sex work, YMMV means that the experiences of one sex worker or one client may not be representative of the experiences of others in the industry.