I would again like to point out, that just because someone doesn't identify themselves as being a sex worker, doesn't mean they think something is wrong with sex workers.
I believe a sex worker is a prostitute. I am not a prostitute. Therefore, I am not a sex worker. In no way, shape, or form does this series of statements say that I think something is wrong with people who are prostitutes. It's just not what I am. I do not believe porn stars or strippers are sex workers. Camming has the most in common with those two areas- live stripping, and making men cum from the visual and audio stimulation I provide, but not providing them with the physical stimulation aspect of inducing orgasm. It's that last bit, providing them with the physical stimulation to induce orgasm, that I think divides those who are "sex workers" with those who are not "sex workers".
Yes, we are part of the sex industry. Yes, there is still a stigma against us. No, I don't think we are better than them. In many ways, they are stronger, because they are dealing with a worse stigma. It's a hell of a lot easier to be accepted for being in adult entertainment than it is to be accepted for being a sex worker. They run more risk than any camgirl, call girl*, stripper, or porn star who doesn't also do prostitution, because we at least are doing something legal. And most of us are somewhat protected against STD's. In terms of risk, camming is the second-to-least risky of all of the sex entertainment industry (only thing less risky is being a phone sex operator). At least, all the ones that are looked down on by society.
(*a call girl is a phone sex operator, right?)
There is a similar debate surrounding the question of whether psychology counts as a science. Those who say it does are usually thinking that psychology not counting as a science is belittling psychology. Those who say it doesn't are in two groups, those who think it's not good enough to be a science, and those who are simply looking at the fact that the current laws prevent psychologists from doing proper scientific studies. I am neither psychologist nor scientist, but I believe that psychology itself is a science, but that it doesn't meant all psychologists are scientists.
Define sex worker, then you know if you believe cam girls are sex workers or not. Saying that "I don't ___ so I'm not a sex worker" just means that the person talking believes that ___ is a requirement for being a sex worker. It's like saying that since saying a lizard is not a mammal because it doesn't have warm blood. A lizard is not a mammal. That doesn't make it better or worse than mammals. It just means it's different.
Here, let's use some more examples of saying "I don't ___ therefore I'm not a ___" which have nothing to do with who is better than who.
I don't know anything about how to wire a house, therefore, I'm not an electrician.
I don't know how to make more than basic foods, therefore, I am not a gourmet chef.
I don't teach people for a living, therefore, I am not a teacher or professor.
I don't run a school, therefore, I am not a principal.
I don't ice skate very often, therefore, I am not an ice skater.
I don't play the trumpet, therefore, I am not a trumpet player.
I don't speak for crowds of people, therefore, I am not a politician.
I don't pass judgement on whether or not a law has been broken, therefore, I am not a judge.
I don't defend or prosecute in court, therefore, I am not a lawyer.
I don't have a penis, therefore, I am not a man.
I don't have the ability to breathe under water, therefore, I am not a fish.
As you can see, this is simply stating that I think the first part is a requirement of being the second part. It does NOT mean that I am better than they are. I actually tried to become a teacher, so I certainly hope I don't think that I'm better than someone who is one.
I do not provide physical stimulation to induce orgasm. Therefore, I am not a sex worker. I do provide aids for orgasm, therefore, I am part of the adult entertainment industry.
I will say it one more time: Saying that I don't do something, therefore, I cannot identify as someone who does do that thing, does not mean I think the people who do that thing are worse than me.
And again: just because I know I am not a part of a group does not mean I think I am better than everyone in that group.
And again: just because I have a definition of a group which excludes me from that group does not mean I think that group is full of bad people.
And again: just because I have a definition of a group which includes me in that group does not mean I think that group is full of good people.
And again: just because I am capable of doing something does not mean I think I'm better than anyone who can't do that thing.
Identifying what the requirements of a label are, and then saying whether or not a specific person fits that label, does not in and of itself pass judgement on whether people who fit that label are better or worse than the rest of the population.