Sex work is, no doubt, one of the oldest—if not the oldest—professions. That being said, it’s 2007 and lots of people still can’t seem to fathom that women (and men) have paid (and will always pay) for sex.

It’s difficult for some Americans to grasp the concept that people actually enjoy sex work, both as the employee and the paying customer. And it’s hard for some people to comprehend that some women choose to devote their bodies and minds to providing such a pleasure-based service. 

The problem with sex work isn’t the work itself, but the safety of the workers who literally lay themselves on the line to do it. Sex workers are often the victims of heinous crimes, and while lots of people can try to justify the why, there is no “correct” reason for this violence. The plain truth: we need to make this a safer world for today’s sex workers.

Of course, while I sit here and spew forth my diatribe, there are people out there actually doing something about the problem. One group of techies headed by Norene Leddy has given their own special twist to the platform sandals worn by strippers and exotic dancers.

Outfitted with an alarm, a GPS tracking system and a hidden safety compartment, these six-inch-high silver, leather platform shoes link the wearer directly to an online community and emergency services. The electronic system fits snugly inside the base of the shoe. The idea is to help sex workers prevent themselves from getting attacked—especially in developing countries, where crimes against prostitutes and other sex workers often go unpunished. 

The shoes Leddy created are in homage to the ancient sexual culture she learned about while living in Cyprus. While working to complete her Fulbright Scholarship, Leddy, who is not a sex worker, learned that ancient Greek sex workers were from all walks of life, and some even walked around in sandals that left the footprint, “follow me” behind them.

Leddy also learned that ancient Greek temples were sometimes dedicated to the cult of Aphrodite. As a way to pay homage to the goddess, Aphrodite’s priestesses would perform sex acts and rituals, many of which equaled prostitution. Back in the day, sex acts were sometimes seen as religious acts, as a form of ritual, as a social service and a legitimate form of commerce. Prostitution was taxed and legislated, and literally all walks of life did sex work, from high-end prostitutes dripping in jewels to women who lured in men with the sound of flutes.

While most shoes are made for walking, Leddy’s shoes are made for talking.

Leddy, who says the project is about creativity, design and marketability, also hopes that “the project will contribute to the current international debate over the regulation, decriminalization and legalization of prostitution.” The idea of the Platforms Project is to challenge people about sex work, and to question society’s values and judgments of sex workers. The artist hopes to shed some light on how these women are treated and to pose lots of questions like: Is it possible to reclaim prostitution in today’s modern world? Is it ethical to carry your own surveillance system?

If you want to learn more about the project, or visit the shoes when they travel to a city near you, check out www.theaphroditeproject.tv. The shoes will be on display at Gallery Aferro in Newark, N.J., through October 6. (www.aferro.org ).