In Exit West, Mohsin Hamid tells the story of two lovers, Nadia and Saeed, who escape their crumbling city through mysterious doors that drop them into entirely new countries. There are no guarantees, no maps, just uncertainty, survival, and the urgent need to adapt.
For many sex workers, this metaphor hits close to home.
Whether you’re navigating shifting laws, unstable platforms, client unpredictability, housing insecurity, or social stigma, life can often feel like stepping through those unknown doors and into something unknown, risky, and completely out of your control.
But as Exit West reminds us: while you may not control the world around you, you can still own your choices and your future. One powerful way to do that is through financial literacy.
Surviving Isn’t Enough. You Deserve to Thrive
Let’s be real, sex workers are some of the most resourceful and adaptive people out there. You manage inconsistent income, platform bans, safety risks, social judgment, and still get the job done. But thriving long-term means having a plan beyond just the next client or payout.
Financial literacy isn’t about being perfect with money. It’s about being in control, no matter how unstable the world gets.
It’s knowing how to protect your income.
How to save and invest in yourself and your future.
How to create options, not just react to limitations.
Just like Nadia in Exit West, you can be in a constant state of reinvention and still build power.
What Exit West Reveals About Reinvention and Resilience
Nadia, one of the central characters, is bold, independent, and quick to adapt to new environments. She wears what she wants, claims her space, and finds work in unfamiliar cities, all while staying grounded in her sense of self.
Saeed, by contrast, struggles to let go of the past. He clings to routines and hierarchies that no longer serve him in his new life.
The lesson is clear: Adaptability is survival, but financial literacy makes it sustainable.
For sex workers, that could look like:
- Saving during good months to cover dry spells
- Separating personal from work finances
- Creating multiple streams of income through digital content, sessions, subscriptions, or side hustles
- Setting boundaries that prioritize your safety and mental health, even if it means earning slightly less that week
Financial Literacy is Liberation
Being a sex worker often means navigating a world that doesn’t want to give you traditional stability. That’s exactly why financial knowledge becomes a form of self-defense.
Whether you’re independent or working through platforms, on OnlyFans or offline, financial literacy helps you:
- Avoid burnout by planning for time off
- Say no to unsafe or uncomfortable work because you have a savings buffer
- Plan for transitions, whether into other work, retirement, or new versions of yourself
- Invest in tools or education that elevate your hustle
It’s not just about money. It’s about choice. Just like the doors in Exit West offer the possibility of a new life, money opens doors too. When you’re financially prepared, you get to choose which ones you walk through.
Start Where You Are. You Don’t Need to Know Everything
You don’t have to become a financial expert overnight. You just need to begin. A little knowledge goes a long way.
Here are a few places to start:
- Emergency fund: Save a few months of expenses to create breathing room
- Track your money: Know what’s coming in and where it’s going
- Separate accounts: If possible, keep business and personal money apart
- Invest in education: Free podcasts, sex worker-friendly professional, and mutual aid communities
- Think long-term: Retirement, housing, healthcare—it’s all part of the plan
And yes, it’s okay if you’re building outside traditional systems. You still have options. There are sex worker-led financial education spaces doing this work for our communities. You’re not alone.
Final Thoughts: You Are Not Temporary
In Exit West, people are constantly told they don’t belong. In cities, countries, communities. But Nadia keeps showing up anyway, crafting a life on her own terms.
As a sex worker, you may be told your work is temporary. Your worth is conditional. But that’s a lie. You deserve security, joy, rest, and a future that fits you.
Financial literacy isn’t about becoming respectable. It’s about becoming unshakable.
The world may stay unpredictable. But when you know your worth and understand your money, you step through every door with purpose, not desperation.
You are the investment. Learn, plan, and build. You deserve to thrive.
P.S. If you’re interested in reading Exit West by Mohsin Hamid, I’d recommend checking with your local bookstore first! Independently owned businesses are struggling right now and could use all the help they can get (and you can find your local shop through bookshop.org if you want to order it online!).
