A woman managing a legal brothel in Western Europe is challenging assumptions about the sex industry, describing how she prioritises worker autonomy, safety and professional boundaries.

Catherine De Noire, 31, began working in the industry at 22 while studying psychology. Nearly nine years later, she balances her night-shift management role with her PhD studies in organisational psychology and a social media following of more than 400,000 people.

In an interview with PEOPLE, De Noire explained that the independent sex workers at the establishment control their own schedules, set their earnings and can refuse customers. She said her role is not to control them but to help maintain a safe working environment.

Brothel Manager Challenges Misconceptions About Sex Workers

De Noire said she wanted to challenge the belief that sex work is always a last resort for people without other opportunities.

She described meeting workers with university degrees and professional skills, some of whom choose the industry because it offers financial flexibility. According to De Noire, the highest earners at her workplace can make around $50,000 (£39,000) a month.

She also said the workers are independent contractors rather than employees under her direct control. They pay to use the premises and keep the money they earn from clients.

However, De Noire acknowledged that exploitation can still occur. She described situations in which partners persuade women to enter sex work and subsequently take control of their earnings.

Safety Measures Include Panic Buttons and the Right to Refuse Clients

De Noire said protecting workers is her main priority. Staff members are trained to respond to emergencies, while every room has at least one concealed panic button.

According to her account, employees are trained to reach a room within eight seconds after a button is pressed. Workers are also reminded that they can refuse customers and establish their own boundaries.

The establishment does not require contractors to submit regular sexually transmitted infection (STI) test results. De Noire said workers are responsible for their own healthcare and that mandatory testing at fixed intervals can create a false sense of security because different infections have different detection windows.

Regular screening remains important, but testing alone cannot guarantee that someone does not have an STI. Prevention also involves appropriate condom use, access to healthcare and informed decisions about sexual health.

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Stigma Can Affect Sex Workers' Mental Health

Beyond physical safety, research suggests that stigma can have serious consequences for sex workers' psychological wellbeing.

A 2023 systematic review published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica examined 30 studies and identified depression as the most commonly reported mental health problem among sex workers. Anxiety, substance use and suicidal thoughts were also reported, alongside barriers to accessing healthcare.

A separate 2026 review in The Lancet Public Health found that stigma across social, healthcare, workplace and legal settings can undermine mental wellbeing and access to support.

These findings do not mean every person involved in sex work experiences mental health problems. Instead, they highlight how discrimination, violence, limited workplace control and barriers to healthcare can contribute to poorer outcomes.

Worker Autonomy Remains Central to Workplace Safety

De Noire said her aim is to make the realities of the industry more visible and challenge assumptions about the people working in it.

Her account also highlights the limits of relying on individual workplace policies to protect workers. Researchers have emphasised the importance of broader occupational protections, access to healthcare and measures that allow sex workers to have control over their working conditions.

While legal frameworks and working environments differ across countries, safety, dignity and access to healthcare remain essential considerations for sex workers everywhere.

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