“I’ve dated more than one man who has played for the NFL. The one who played the longest was also the least passionate about the sport. But he was a big guy from the South and at 350 pounds he was given an opportunity. It payed for his bachelor’s degree and he was celebrated. But because I am a woman I am denigrated if I commodify my body. If I put myself at risk for brain injury it’s “Yay!” If I put on 8 inch clear heels and dance it’s “Boo!” I’m an actor and I have a masters degree in education from NYU and after graduate school I was working five jobs just to cover expenses. I walked into a club where I applied to be a bartender and they offered me a dancing job. I danced for ten years and I define it as sex work because even though I wasn’t being paid to have sex if I were hit by a bus I’d be referred to as “Another dead ho - not an exotic creative performer”. I can’t go into a school and apply for job as a teacher and say I was a stripper and expect them to give me a job.” - Essence Revealed is an author and coaches female sexual violence survivors. #damnrightiatetheapple