Professional Experience
I'm Katia Schwartz, a professional in erotic performance, business ownership, and inclusion advocacy, with a career spanning over sixteen years in the sex industry.
A little bit about me;
As an active member of the disability, sex work, and queer communities, I am an advocate for the destigmatisation and inclusion of marginalised groups. My passion for the sex industry has been the driving force behind all my professional endeavours, and I take immense pride in the impact and experiences I've garnered throughout my journey.
Sex worker activism.
I am a sex work educator to the broader community, and public activist for sex worker rights.
I am a public advocate for sex worker rights, educating the broader community about the importance of the decriminalisation of sex work and the implementation of anti-descrimination protections for sex workers throughout unceded Australia. I contribute to public discourse by speaking at rallies, media appearances and utilising my personal online platforms for advocacy work. I also prepare submissions to parliament, encouraging policy reforms that support the rights of all sex workers. Being open about my profession has allowed me to give back to the sex work community in meaningful ways, fostering dialogue, understanding, and respect from the broader community.
By leveraging my platform, I have produced a number of well known productions providing performance artists, namely sex workers a paid platform. My ‘Heartstoppers’ event was the first showcase of aerial, pole and burlesque in Australia for both amateur and professional performers to share their art in a variety show framework. My recurring panel, ‘Disrobed’ and cabaret show ‘Make it Rain’ allowed a sex worker line-up to tell their stories and educate the broader community on issues affecting sex workers. These events incorporated peer education initiatives, such as resource production emphasising the importance of safer sex practices and fostered opportunities for skill sharing and peer networking. My event, ‘Glory Box’ was also the first Australian amateur and professional showcase of aerial, pole, Shibari and burlesque that actively and explicitly celebrated sex work, BDSM and eroticism.
Since 2023, I am currently employed at Scarlet Alliance, the Australian Sex Workers Association, where I manage the organisation’s programs funded by the Department of Health. In this role, I oversee initiatives related to sex education, sex worker skill-sharing, the National Training Project for sex workers, policy development, advocacy, and communications. I am deeply passionate about this work and find immense satisfaction in contributing to programs that support the sex work community.
Deaf community advocacy.
I publicly advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, and am a proud Deaf sex worker and activist.
As a profoundly deaf sex worker, I navigate unique intersections within the broader community and within the sex industry. As such, I am passionate about advocating for deaf rights and accessibility.
In my commitment to deaf advocacy, I have volunteered for Deaf Rainbow, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the deaf and LGBT communities. I have also featured in award winning, deaf-led film "Deafying Gravity," directed by Sam Martin. This documentary shares my personal story as a deaf sex worker and my experience learning Auslan as an adult, shedding light on the nuances of navigating this unique intersection.
I am also a passionate writer. My work such as blog posts, "Dancing Deaf" and "Deaf Gain," aim to break down stigmas associated with people with disabilities. These writings explore the complexities of identity, challenge societal norms, and highlight the beauty of diversity in both the deaf and sex work communities.
One of the central themes I address in my advocacy work is the intersection of whorephobia and ableism. Disabled sex workers often live with attributes that are unique and make us easily identifiable. The physical attributes of disability often stick out due to societal constructs of disgust, eugenics, and the pursuit of the 'perfect human'—ideologies perpetuated by systems of racist, ableist, and gendered domination.
By confronting these deeply ingrained prejudices, I aim to foster a more inclusive and understanding world that recognises the inherent value and agency of all individuals, regardless of disability or occupation.
Media advocacy and visibility.
I am an internationally recognised deaf, queer sex worker advocate and have extensive experience in media appearances.
I've featured in a range of media campaigns that spotlight the intersections of disability and sex work, putting a 'face' to these underrepresented communities. I was recently featured in a viral campaign on a number of media channels, where I slammed National broadcasting network, SBS for failing to produce 'real time' captions on an episode of 'Insight' that I was invited to appear on, where I discussed sex work and nuances of transactional relationships.
In 2022, I was a guest on the Somebody You Love Podcast where I delved into the unique challenges and perspectives of being a deaf sex worker, hosted by fellow sex worker advocates, Jenna Love and Holly Harte. This conversation was mirrored in my appearance on Nasty Woman Club (now Kaleidoscope News), where I again discussed these intersections.
In the same year, I had the opportunity to speak on Accessible Arts by Create NSW with host Christine Anu, sharing my experiences as a pole dancing and aerial instructor and the importance of accessibility within dance teaching. Similarly, my appearance on SBS News focused on my journey as a deaf dancer with roots deeply embedded in the sex work industry.
Earlier appearances that have contributed to my advocacy work include features in Urban Village Magazine, where I highlighted the origins of pole dancing and emphasised the importance of respecting its roots in strip clubs. This narrative underscores the need for acknowledgment and appreciation of the dance form's origins, particularly by those who engage in pole dancing today. Additionally, I was featured in Australian Pole Dancers Magazine in 2019, participated in an interview with Good Day Girl in 2018, and contributed a piece to The Daily Telegraph back in 2016.
Sky Sirens.
Sky Sirens.
I was a business owner and the pioneer of internationally recognised, inclusive and sex work influenced dance classes (2016 - 2023)
In 2016, I founded Surry Hills dance studio, Sky Sirens, with a vision to redefine the boundaries of pole, aerial, and burlesque teaching. Within just two years, the studio expanded to occupy a second level of our Crown Street building, a doubling in size from a small team of six to a dedicated group of forty professionals. Our student base similarly flourished, growing from a cohort of sixty to an impressive database of over two thousand (in-person) dancers.
At Sky Sirens, I pioneered internationally recognised approaches to aerial apparatus instruction, notably introducing techniques in stripper heels, emphasising the sex work origins of pole dancing and accessible teaching models. My commitment to community-building and challenging industry norms was further exemplified by Sky Sirens’ scholarship programs. We proudly became the world's first pole, aerial, and burlesque studio to offer scholarships exclusively for Indigenous people and sex workers. Additionally, our non-profit partnership with 'Fighting Chance' provided adults with intellectual disabilities free access to aerial classes, fostering both skill development and social connections.
In recognition of our efforts, Sky Sirens was honoured as a finalist in the national 2023 Telstra Business Awards in two esteemed categories: "Building Communities" and "Accelerating Women". Out of over 20,000 applicants across the country, we were among the select 29 businesses acknowledged for our exceptional contributions. Sky Sirens stands as my most cherished professional accomplishment, a testament to dedication, innovation, and a commitment to inclusion.
In early 2023, I faced the heart-wrenching decision to close Sky Sirens, a business that had become an integral part of my identity. After feeling that I had truly achieved everything I could in that space, stepping away allowed me to explore new avenues and deepen my understanding of my other passions, particularly in the realm of sex worker advocacy.
I am available for media and/or modelling opportunities, public speaking, interviews, or educational workshops. Whether you're a fellow sex worker seeking mentoring, media, brand or someone interested in understanding more about disability and sex work intersections, I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Connect with me.
Sex workers and Media only. Please book sex work services via my booking form only.
I offer free resources, advice, and answers to questions pertaining to sex work for peers only. I'm passionate about providing support and information that can support others within the sex work community. However, please note that my experiences are often specific to my own circumstances and may not always be relevant to all peers. As I don’t charge for this work, please be respectful of my time and understand that I may not always be available, may not feel comfortable or have experience answering every type of question.
All enquiries, including requests for interviews, modelling, mentoring, and collaborations, must be directed to my email at katia@thegingerdoll.com.
Please don’t ask me questions about sex work on my social media channels, due to the risk of deplatforming.