"I Don’t Really Need You. I Got a Body That’s Going to Get Me What I Need”: A Case Study on Sexual Autonomy and Agency Through Camming and Social Media Engagement Among Black Young Adult Females

Objective: Described by participants as virtual sex work, “camming,” (short for “webcamming”) has become a popular method of achieving independence and financial gain. As defined by Jones (2015a), virtual sex work functions as an Internet-mediated exchange of sexual services. With an increase in popular culture’s influence on virtual sex work, including camming, the current study explores the role that online sexual work plays in the decision-making and behaviors of Black adolescent and young adult females. Method: We applied case study analysis to 4 semistructured interviews with Black adolescent and young adult Black females, ages 16–22, who shared personal accounts of their engagement in or exposure to online sex work and online sexual platforms. Results: Three primary themes emerged: survival through self-reliance and empowerment; intentionality toward meeting financial needs; and awareness of risks and threats. We discuss participants’ juxtaposition of achieving sexual autonomy and dealing with threats to personal safety. Conclusions: Social work practitioners should consider culturally appropriate harm reduction interventions specifically for Black adolescent and emerging adult women engaged in the camming and online sex work industry.