At 7.12am on the day we talk, Dr Hilary Caldwell runs naked into Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin for the annual winter solstice swim. By 11am, she is back at her desk to take another plunge: speaking publicly about being a sex worker for the first time. Her new book, Slutdom: Reclaiming Shame-Free Sexuality, expands on her doctorate, Women Who Buy Sex in Australia.
Now people say, 'Everyone knows women buy sex,' which I find very gratifying. Her book blends academic research, interviews with sex workers and the women who use them, and Caldwell's own experiences. Keeping her sex work secret, while wanting to lessen the stigma, was a source of stress.
I've always loved sex, and I thought to myself, 'I could actually be a better mother if I had more money.' I was actually challenged twice when standing at a podium: 'Excuse me, but are you a sex worker? Do you have the right to speak about this?' she says. I denied it.
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