Once again, Nevada brothels have made the news. This time, their day in court will revolve around an effort to unionize and an effort for sex workers to be recognized as employees of the brothels. 

In light of this effort to unionize, it’s important to state that the workers leading this movement do not speak for the entire sex work industry. 

I’ve been an outspoken advocate for workers’ rights for many years and I completely understand and support better working conditions for myself and my colleagues. However, I do not support becoming an employee of a brothel.

For more than 10 years, I’ve worked as an independent contractor at several different brothels in Nevada, including the Bunny Ranch and the Chicken Ranch. Working as an independent contractor has allowed me to set my own schedule, set my own rates, offer the services I choose and have the ability to turn away guests for any reason. 

I am solely in control of my image, my brand and my website. I decide how I want to advertise myself, how I want to communicate with clients and how I want to manage my business. 

In The Nevada Independent article about the unionization effort, much has been said about contracts. Licensed Nevada sex workers are legitimate professionals, and contracts are a normal part of working as an independent contractor. In any professional relationship, there are compromises to be made. Contracts, whether for independent contractors or employees, are one of those compromises. If an independent contractor does not agree with the terms of a contract, that person always has the option not to sign and to work elsewhere.

The idea that collective bargaining through a union will necessarily produce a better outcome than the current independent contractor model — which many sex workers feel has supported their ability to earn a living during the past 50 years — is open to debate. Collective bargaining also involves compromise. An employer is not required to agree to every demand, just as workers are not required to accept every proposal.

Personally, I have no desire to spend my time in this industry on a picket line if negotiations break down. The system as it exists today is not perfect. But for me, it has provided the ability to run my own business, make my own decisions and maintain a level of autonomy that I value as a professional independent woman.

This independence and autonomy has given me the freedom to purchase property as well as invest in and operate other small businesses. If I need to take a monthlong break from sex work to focus on goat births at my farm, I can do that.

As an employee, I’d have less flexibility. I can’t deduct business expenses on my taxes, I have less freedom to set my schedule and operate my other businesses, and I may potentially be required to go through the union for any contract negotiations instead of advocating for myself.

Unions are important in many industries, especially when workers share similar responsibilities and conditions. But sex work is not standardized labor. Each client interaction is an individual negotiation. My boundaries may not be the same as those of my colleagues. I base which services I offer and rates on my personal experience, my brand and my own comfort levels. A union cannot and should not be responsible for negotiating my personal boundaries.

I’ve spent thousands of hours building a brand inside and outside the brothel. As an independent contractor, I’m not just a sex worker, I’m an entrepreneur. Going from a business owner to an employee doesn’t feel like empowerment to me — it feels like regression. 

In the sex work industry, women have been fighting a long battle to be able to control their own bodies. Throughout history, there have often been laws and policies created and enforced that are aimed at “protecting” women. Under the guise of safety, women have been told where they can work, how much money they can make and who is allowed to speak for them. Protection that removes personal choice and autonomy is not protection, it’s control. 

Having the autonomy to choose when and how I do sex work has been integral to my success in the industry, my other businesses and my personal life. 

I provide education, companionship and emotional and physical intimacy to my clients. I decide who I provide that to, for how long and at what rate. I decide what I do with my body and on what terms — and I do not need or want a union negotiating for me.

Alice Little is a licensed sex worker who works in Nye County. She is also the founder of Hookers for Healthcare and co-founder of the Nevada Brothel Association.