Catherine Shirley
Catherine Shirley
Occupation: Public Relations Coordinator at RealDoll
Location: San Diego, California, United States
The Sex In My Business: At RealDoll, we make sex dolls and other sex toys. As the office and social media manager, I get many, many phone calls each day from people who have product questions or concerns. Most customers are somewhat embarrassed to talk about sex toys on the phone, but I help ease them out of that.
A Typical Day: I’m usually the first one in the office. Throughout the day, I answer the phone, respond to emails, run errands, give personal tours, and help our sales team handle visiting media crews (they never want to listen to what they are and aren’t allowed to film).
The Best Part: My coworkers are great, and the work/life balance at RealDoll is unbeatable. I also find the adult industry incredibly unique and fascinating — I love being a part of it! Being able to travel and act as the “face” of this company has been immensely rewarding too. I’m thankful to be well-respected among my colleagues and that we are all a bunch of loveable weirdos.
The Worst Part: The unwanted dick pics. Yes, I get sent penis photos. Daily. Occasionally, I also have to deal with some obnoxious behavior from customers. Some have asked for dolls to be made to look like me, or have wanted to see my breasts, or made creepy comments about my body. Thankfully, this is not the norm, but it is still extremely annoying.
How I Got Here: Before this job, I managed coffee shops, believe it or not. I found an ad for my current position on craigslist. When I saw the word “RealDoll” I thought, “No fucking way!” I applied immediately, and the rest, as they say, is history.
What Society Thinks: I’m almost certainly in the minority on this, but my family thinks my job is the coolest. My husband and other partners visit often, and my mother has lunch with me at least once a month. My father, grandparents, and in-laws have all taken tours. Everyone thinks it’s fascinating. The dates I’ve brought have mostly had positive reactions too! Some strangers assume that because I work for a sex doll company, I am somehow more “slutty” (whatever that means!) or kinky; not that there’s anything wrong with that, but the judgemental presumptuousness is disappointing. But the truth is, I am extraordinarily lucky — it is difficult to exaggerate how affirming and validating it is to have friends and family who think my unconventional career is kick-ass.
When I’m Not At Work: I am a huge nerd. I play DnD every week (that’s Dungeons and Dragons for all you non-nerds out there!), and I like visiting breweries and cool new hipster bars. I also enjoy going on dates with my husband and my boyfriend, and I try to take my dog to the beach at least twice a month.
For more about Catherine, follow her on Twitter.
Published Jul 1, 2020
Updated Jan 2, 2023
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