Sex Worker talks about her Life in a Stunning Photo Series
Meet Claudette, she is a husband, a grandfather and an award-winning cyclist. She’s also an intersex sex worker her story is very, very unique. Photographer Malika Delrieu became enamored with Claudette’s story, so much so that she decided to document her life in photographs. She dubbed the stunning series “La Vie en Rose.” The images chronicle Claudette’s daily life:
When meeting with Malika Gaudin Delrieu, the photographer , she said ”I’d rather sell my ass than my soul; it’s harder but much cleaner”.
Born with both male and female genitalia, Claudette’s parents assigned her a male gender when she was born in Switzerland in 1937, when being male was a clear advantage. Throughout her life, gender has played a major role in Claudette’s identity, though not a defining one.
To fully play with the possibilities and ramifications of gender roles, Claudette turns to prostitution. “Prostitution becomes a source of self confidence,” Claudette explained, “for people who see in prostitutes the ultimate femininity and who assume this role with happiness and a sense of relief.”
Claudette with her wife, Andrée, they are together for 52 years. Because Claudette’s parents declared her male at birth, she was able to marry the love of her life, Andrée, with whom she has three children and has always loved her for who she is.
“I never felt bad about being hermaphrodite, it’s the others who have a problem with it; not me,” Claudette told Delrieu. “…I have always felt like a girl and I lived my life accordingly. I have the sex of the angels, why would I be ashamed of it?” She speaks also about her work: “The satisfaction of work well done is incomparable in prostitution. When a client is happy, I’m happy too. It’s social work, how can anyone deny that we make people happy, that we are useful? In my job I have the certainty that I have done what was right.” ——– SOURCE: Huffpost
