We’ve all taken surveys before — or perhaps filled out an application — that attempts to capture some sort of standardized information. Sometimes though, the pre-set answers aren’t perfect.
While asking for your gender identity as male, female or non-binary on government forms like they now do in California is awesome, not all standardized and/or pre-set fields accurately sum up your true self. This may be especially relevant on a performance sex-work job application.
Though there are reasons why a platform needs to ask for details like gender, the options may not always the best fit for you. When that comes up, what do you do?
I came across a question online recently that asked just that. Here’s the initial query:
I want to try cam modeling, but I don’t know what gender of model I should sign up as since I’m gender non-conforming. I identify as male and am marked that way on my ID, but I look and act very feminine and get mistaken for a woman about 98% of the time. I want to sign up as a male model and cater to viewers who like femboys/crossdressers, but will I have to register as transgender because some of my feminine looks are due to surgery?
This was a really interesting position, one that gets at complications that may arise from categories –- not to mention what happens when categorical meanings vary between people (models, as well as members) and institutions. The person asking the question here seems to want to provide the best and clearest information, while being unsure where their identity falls within the context of a few categorical “click this box” options.
Insights from others seemed focused within two different approaches to webcam: Are you camming for you, or, are you camming for clients? Let’s consider.
Camming for clients
If your game is focused on making money, then camming for clients’ interests, needs and proclivities is probably your focus. This doesn’t mean the work is not also personally fulfilling, but it may mean that you put the hustle for clients first and foremost.
With this perspective in mind, one person suggested:
It really comes down to money, and you will not make any money in the female category, since people there are expecting genitalia you don’t have. You probably won’t make much money in the male category, since 99% of camguys don’t even make minimum wage.
You would be able to do quite well in the trans category, though. If you’re comfortable with that go for it! If you’re not, I hate to be frank, but you probably won’t be able to earn money camming since you have to cater to the customers, not yourself.
A ? Another person echoed the harsh sum-up of expected earnings for models in various sex and gender categories.
I identify as gender non-binary, but I suck it up and present as female for cam. Chicks make more money.
Chicks, man. This person seemed to be offering the same harsh reality about the nature of cam clients. The person posing the original question clarified, though, explaining they are more interested in camming for self-expression.
Well, that’s fine if that’s what works for you, but for me, all my sexiness/sexuality is connected to being male, so I could never perform in any sort of sexualized environment as a female.
Also, nearly every list of tips for cammers that I’ve read recommends being true to yourself, and warns the readers that viewers will be able to tell who’s putting on an act and won’t tip the fakers as highly. So I wouldn’t agree that it’s a given you’ll make more money if you present as female. Masquerading as a gender that doesn’t resonate with you at all might actually cost you rather than boost your profits.
Definitely an interesting perspective in terms of making assumptions about what may or may not play well with members. This leads us into the next response perspective: camming for you.
Camming for you
The person posing the original question clarified their position:
I’m not asking about how to make the most money possible, because this isn’t about money for me. I want to do it mainly to improve my confidence and my social skills, and without having to do anything or portray myself in any way that I don’t feel comfortable with. If I make little money from doing so, that’s fine; if I do make money, it’ll just be icing on the cake. The intent of this question was to make sure I wouldn’t be breaking any rules.
Interesting stuff, and the answer seemed to get much simpler: Just ask the studio or platform.
“Go to the source,” one person wrote. “Contact the site’s customer service and ask them what they recommend.”
Another concurred: “I agree: Ask them directly. If I were to guess, I would say they are going to recommend you sign up under the trans category.”
Another interesting suggestion: Learn from other performers who may identify similarly.
Browse performers in the categories you’re considering registering under. Observe them and also read their bios. See if you can find anyone in a similar position to you, and check out what they’re doing.
Finally, there was the clear and simple “put in your best effort, and if you need to make changes, make changes.”
Chances are, there will be no “wrong” choice. As long as you are clear and upfront in your bio, anyone who may claim you’re falsely advertising/being “deceitful” by using your chosen category won’t have a leg to stand on. You’ll never please everyone, so you may as well choose what works best for you.
I decided to take this wise advice and asked an informed source. Andra Chirnogeanu, the public relations manager for Studio20, had this to say: “It depends on the site that a model would like to work on. You should read the rules of the camsite and if you have any questions, the support team should be able to help.”
“Check in with the site you want to work with, and ask them about it. You’ll get the correct info from them,” she added.
Accoring to Chirnogeanu, the balance involved with catering to members seemed to manifest similarly to the way others had described.
“If a model identifies as a man and their ID says that, they should be able to register as a male performer,” she said. “Take into consideration that feminine aspects might not be what people are looking for when they search for cam boys, though.”
Update (October 20, 2017): Chaturbate’s Chief Operating Officer Shirley Lara shared, “For the record, we let broadcasters select the gender they identify with.”
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Erika is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
