Sex Work Triumphs at the Oscars

Anora follows the life of a sex worker Ani, played by Mikey Madison. The film, which previously won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, tells the story of a young stripper from Brooklyn who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. It was nominated six times and eventually won five Oscars.

Anora breaks with the long-standing tradition of portraying sex workers in films as either femmes fatales, helpless victims, or exotic, mysterious figures. Ani, the film’s protagonist, is depicted as a fully developed character with autonomy and control over her own life. One striking scene shows Ani demanding her labor rights from her manager.

In this way, Anora serves as an argument for recognizing sex work as legitimate labor, with corresponding labor rights. Be it a coincidence or not, the film was released in the same year that Belgian sex workers finally gained legal labor rights after years of struggle.

In Sean Baker’s words: "Sex workers' bodies belong to sex workers. It is up to them to decide how they use them for their work." He added, "Sex work is a profession, a career, and a job that deserves respect."

Despite all the praise, some criticism has been raised. For many sex workers, personal and financial independence is the main reason for engaging in sex work. However, the film portrays its protagonist as someone whose success in life is determined by the men around her, reinforcing a familiar stereotype.

Director Sean Baker was honored with four awards, making him the first person since Walt Disney to achieve this in a single night.

Baker too, enthusiastically thanked the sex work community during his acceptance speech: "They have shared their stories with me, their life experiences over the years. My deepest respect—thank you, I share this with you all."

Upon winning the Palme d’Or in May 2024, Baker dedicated the award to all sex workers worldwide, expressing his hope that his film would help break the stigma surrounding sex work.