Description
Escorts accompany persons to social events but also on more private occasions, such as dinners or visits of night clubs. They may be in charge of arranging transportation and buying tickets to places of interest. This might include the provision of erotic or consensual sexual services to the client in case it is a legal activity in the respective country.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to escort:
male prostitute
sex worker
gigolo
lady of the night
incall girl
prostitute
out call girl
social escort
patient escort
call girl
Working conditions
The working conditions of sex workers vary depending on the type of work they do and the country in which they work. For example, street-based sex workers often have very little control over their working environment and are at risk of violence from both clients and passers-by. In contrast, sex workers who work in brothels or massage parlors often have more control over their working environment and are less likely to experience violence.
In general, however, sex workers are often subject to exploitation, coercion, and violence. They may not have access to basic rights and protection, and their work is often illegal. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation by both clients and law enforcement.
In some countries, sex workers are able to unionize and negotiate better terms with their employers. However, in many cases, they are not protected by labor laws and are not able to unionize. This leaves them at the mercy of their employers, who can often dictate the terms of their employment. As a result, sex workers often work long hours for little pay and are subject to dangerous and unhealthy working conditions.
Minimum qualifications
No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a sex worker.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Escort is a Skill level 2 occupation.
Escort career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to escort.
event electrician
tent installer
fashion model
astrologer
psychic
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of escort. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of escort with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
fight director
artistic coach
followspot operator
dresser
stand-in
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of escort.
- Ensure health and safety in escort services: Implement and monitor health and safety practices to ensure health and safety of both the client and oneself.
- Maintain privacy in escort services: Offer escort services to clients on a confidential basis. Respect the clients’ privacy by not disclosing any personal information about them.
- Provide escort services: Offer companionship to clients in both private and public settings.
- Accompany people: Chaperon individuals on trips, to events or appointments or to go shopping.
- Provide physical intimacy: Provide physical intimacy such as sexual services to clients according to laws and regulations.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of escort. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Be in touch with your body: The key aspects of applied anatomy, psychology, nutrition, physiology, and psychosocial studies and how they relate to the self-awareness of one’s body.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of escort. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Promote yourself: Market one’s own strengths in terms of skills and knowledge.
- Screen clients of escort services: Evaluate personal information and appearance of the client in order to verify that they do not pose a threat.
ISCO group and title
5169 – Personal services workers not elsewhere classified
References
- Escort – ESCO
- Understanding SexWork in an Open Society – Open Society Foundations
- Featured image: By Thijs Paanakker – https://www.flickr.com/photos/136477533@N06/27536327901, CC BY 2.0