It's probably the word 'whore'. Similar to 'cunt', it hits a little different from 'prostitute' or 'pussy'.

Culturally, 'whore' is an acceptable word for me to use. Any permutation of the N word is not.

I've spent a fair amount of time among drag queens(not necessarily sex workers but there is overlap), strippers, prostitutes and crack whores. Most of them are decent folks in hard times. It is rare that people willingly choose sex work, instead, it's usually desperation and addiction. A desperate population does desperate things like petty crime.