Alpha Consumer

Sugar Daddies and the New Prostitution Index

By Kimberly Palmer

Posted: January 29, 2009

Perhaps the proliferation of stories related to selling sex for money could be dubbed the "Prostitution Index": When times are bad, do women inevitably turn to their bodies to generate extra cash?

First, we had Natalie Dylan, auctioning off her virginity for almost $4 million. Then, we had the DABA (Dating a Banker Anonymous) girls who, while not selling themselves for money, have been quite disappointed in the fact that their banker boyfriends can no longer support fancy vacations and dinners out. And today brings us sugar daddies.

Good Morning America featured an 18-year-old who is dating a 40-year-old in exchange for Las Vegas weekends and Manolos. He's married, but she's fine with the relationship because, as she puts it, "I live much better than the average girl." (No word on how the wife feels about it.)

Is this just a fluke, or is the recession really causing this sudden burst of pseudo-prostitution?

I beg to differ my dear, Most Sugar Daddies are not lagal slaves

Significant age disparity in sexual relationships has been and remains a feature of couples in many cultures and societies. The most common pattern in heterosexual couples is an older man with a younger woman.

Sugar daddy – a rich, usually older man who offers money or gifts to a less rich, usually younger person in return for companionship or intamacy. This differs from prostitution in that the older man is usually the sole financial provider to the younger person. In Japan, there is a loosely similar practice known as enjō kosai.

Sugar daddy arrangements are fast becoming a popular alternative for those seeking no frills instant gratification. For me, conventional dating went out with the Bush administration, and the time was ripe for adding a lucrative twist on my dating life. Single, small business owner, college-graduate and broke, I was aware that in order to survive this era of change, I would need to monetize – everything.

Committed, long-term, traditional relationships can be a beautiful thing…but most of us can share sob stories resulting from relationship drama.

Since the global economic collapse, millions of people have lost their jobs, and the financial well being of a potential mate is more important than ever. But what’s the difference between a ‘sugar baby’ and a money grubbing ‘gold digger’?

Unlike a ‘gold-digger’, a sugar baby doesn’t set out to marry a rich man to ‘settle down with’. Sugar babies don’t settle, nor do they seek ‘commitment’ or superfluous obligations from their intimate partners.

One of the unique aspects about this type of dating is that people who would otherwise only date within their 'appropriate' or familiar social niches, are inclined to arrange mutually rewarding relationships with those well outside their socio-economic class. It’s an ironic way of overcoming the ill effects of social stratification. It's a way for me to meet an end without the pretense of monogamy, commitment, or sacrificing all dignity with a sex-for-money transaction. In this economy, what intelligent, upwardly mobile young person wouldn't consider a mutually beneficial arrangement (physical or platonic), to help keep hope alive?

Today’s emerging ‘sugar babies’ are self-empowered recession savvy millennials, and we know an opportunity when we see one. What’s the problem with adding a little sugar to an already Craigslist-afflicted personal life?

Dating to climb the social ladder is definitely more appealing than a cheap, brute, one-night-stand. Like many others, I've passed up opportunities to have a sugar daddy in the past, but the concept of creating an 'arrangement’ had the clarity I sought; I would get financial support and competitive edge from discreet relationships with rich and powerful man. A sugar daddy arrangement can be a unique, enriching experience between people who understand, and value the meaning of reciprocity.

Diamond Doll of CT @ Feb 15, 2009 23:58:11 PM

Greed always leads to infidelity in all things

Greed is an appetite that grows stronger upon that which it is fed. Women have sold themselves out for favors as long as the sun has shown on humanity. This is possible because men are rewarded by women for being horney, greedy and violent as long as the benefits serve them. It is common in our culture for women to manipulate the behavior of men with sex. This is the same as prostitution i.e, trading sex for favors.

Since women rightfully claim they do 90% of the child rearing, how did we all get so messed up?

Dean of OR @ Jan 30, 2009 09:49:59 AM

The cause you're not thinking about

No, it's not the "recession". It's our culture, AND the fact that we granted too many tax cuts to too many guys who can now afford thousands to tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands for playing and cheating as "Sugar Daddies".

Rod Blogojevich said about the Illinois senate seat, "this thing is bleepin' golden and I'm not going to just bleepin' give it away". A lot of girls have figured out the same concerning their "dating" company.

Problem is, at this high end as described above, too many men have too much money to spend on such. Increase income taxes back to the rates of the pre-Reagan old days.

Yes, you heard that right.

Muser of @ Jan 29, 2009 15:50:53 PM

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Alpha Consumer

Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.


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