At the 97th Academy Awards, Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her performance in Anora and said in her speech, “I want to recognize and support the sex worker community as an ally.” But normalizing sex work reduces women’s value to physical appeal, undermining true empowerment rooted in respect, intellect, and character.
The debate over sex work is not new. Legal theorist Catharine MacKinnon has long argued that the proliferation of sex work in media has molded how women are viewed culturally in society in ways that reinforce rather than challenge objectification. Similarly, psychologist Melissa Farley describes prostitution as a “cornerstone of rape culture,” emphasizing that societies that tolerate or glamorize sex work inevitably condition people to see women’s bodies as commodities rather than individuals of intellect and purpose.
A study by S. S. R. Calogero supports these concerns, showing that men who were exposed to sexualized images of women exhibited reduced activation in brain regions associated with recognizing human agency, in effect, perceiving these women as objects rather than people. When the female body is continuously framed as a product to be sold, women are viewed through a transactional lens.
Advocates for legitimizing sex work often argue it reduces stigma and improves worker protections. Yet, in Germany, where prostitution is legal, stigma persists. Sex workers are often treated as second-class citizens, struggling to secure housing, banking, or healthcare amid relentless judgment and police harassment. Driven by male demand, the industry frequently draws women out of economic necessity, not choice. Far from empowering, legalization often entrenches gender imbalances, confining women to roles shaped by male desires rather than enabling self-defined aspirations.
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Madison’s speech comes at a time when young women are already navigating conflicting messages about empowerment. A striking example is the controversy surrounding 17-year-old YouTuber Piper Rockelle, who recently collaborated with adult content creators from OnlyFans. The backlash was immediate, with critics pointing out how such partnerships blur the distinction between content aimed at minors and explicit adult entertainment.
This incident is not an isolated one. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X—formerly Twitter—often promote hypersexualized content under the guise of confidence and empowerment, leading young women to believe that their worth is tied to external validation—often by men—rather than internal character. The American Psychological Association’s (APA) Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls found that the proliferation of sexualized media is actively harmful to young women’s mental health. Studies link exposure to hypersexualized portrayals with higher rates of depression, eating disorders, self-objectification, and a distorted sense of self-worth.
Girls exposed to sexualized media often internalize the belief that their worth is defined by their sexual attractiveness rather than their intelligence, skills, or accomplishments. This message, reinforced by the media, contributes to feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. UNICEF has found that this constant sexualization leads to higher levels of body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, and increased anxiety among young women. Instead of empowering them, these portrayals of women often strip away confidence, leaving them with a distorted sense of self-worth. And social media has accelerated minors’ exposure to adult content and, in some cases, enabled them, or even their parents, to become entangled in the industry itself. For example, Rockelle’s mother, Tiffany Smith, was sued for allegedly exploiting and abusing young content creators, ultimately settling for $1.85 million. Yet despite this, Rockelle continues to operate in online spaces that overlap with the adult industry, raising troubling questions: Where are the boundaries? Who is protecting young women from exploitation disguised as empowerment?
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When high-profile celebrities, media figures, and influencers publicly celebrate sex work without acknowledging its risks, they contribute to a culture where young women internalize the idea that self-objectification is acceptable or even aspirational. For centuries, women have fought to be recognized for their intellect, leadership, and contributions, rather than being valued solely for their bodies. Today, we have more opportunities than ever before to define our worth beyond objectification, but the glorification of sex work threatens this opportunity.
True empowerment does not come from selling one’s body in a marketplace still dominated by male demand. It comes from having the freedom to choose a future that is not defined by external validation, but by personal strength and purpose. Feminine dignity is not found in commodification; it is found in the ability to stand with confidence, grace, and wisdom, knowing one’s worth extends far beyond appearance.
A culture that equates women’s empowerment with selling their sexuality is committing the ultimate gaslighting—it is packaging exploitation as freedom. Mikey Madison’s speech is emblematic of Hollywood, social media, and influencers normalizing sex work, ignoring its harm to women’s equality. True empowerment offers women options, dignity, and the freedom to pursue passions without objectification. Society must create opportunities that eliminate the need to sell one’s body, not glorify industries that profit from it.
Femininity’s future lies in grace, confidence, and self-respect—a world where no woman faces exploitation as her only path forward.
Image: “Vigil to End Violence Against Sex Workers at San Francisco Hall” by Steve Rhodes on Flickr
