Transactional sex refers to
sexual relationship
An intimate relationship is an interpersonal relationship that involves emotional or physical closeness between people and may include sexual intimacy and feelings of Romance (love), romance or love. Intimate relationships are Interdependence ...
s where the giving and/or receiving of gifts, money or other services is an important factor. The participants do not necessarily frame themselves in terms of
prostitutes
Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-p ...
/clients, but often as girlfriends/boyfriends, or
sugar babies/sugar daddies/mamas. Those offering sex may or may not feel affection for their partners.
Transactional sex is a
superset
In mathematics, a set ''A'' is a subset of a set ''B'' if all elements of ''A'' are also elements of ''B''; ''B'' is then a superset of ''A''. It is possible for ''A'' and ''B'' to be equal; if they are unequal, then ''A'' is a proper subset ...
of
sex work
Sex work is "the exchange of sexual services, performances, or products for material compensation. It includes activities of direct physical contact between buyers and sellers as well as indirect sexual stimulation". Sex work only refers to volun ...
, in that the exchange of monetary reward for sex includes a broader set of (usually non-marital) obligations that do not necessarily involve a predetermined payment or gift, but where there is a definite motivation to benefit materially from the sexual exchange.
Currencies
Alcohol
Alcohol
Alcohol may refer to:
Common uses
* Alcohol (chemistry), a class of compounds
* Ethanol, one of several alcohols, commonly known as alcohol in everyday life
** Alcohol (drug), intoxicant found in alcoholic beverages
** Alcoholic beverage, an alco ...
has been used as a currency for transactional sex in South Africa and Uganda.
See also
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Casting couch
The casting couch is a euphemism for the practice of soliciting sexual favors from a job applicant in exchange for employment in the entertainment industry, primarily acting roles. The practice is illegal in the United States. Predominantly mal ...
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Enjo kōsai
, shortened to , is a type of transactional relationship similar to the Western sugar dating. It is the Japanese language term for the practice of older men giving money and/or luxury gifts to attractive young women for sexual favors. The female ...
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Hypergamy
Hypergamy (colloquially referred to as "dating up" or "marrying up") is a term used in social science for the act or practice of a person dating or marrying a spouse of higher social status than themselves.
The antonym "hypogamy" refers to t ...
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Kept woman
A mistress or kept woman is a woman who is in a relatively long-term sexual and romantic relationship with someone who is married to a different person.
Description
A mistress is usually in a long-term good relationship with a person who is ...
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Prostitution among animals
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Sex for fish
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Sugar baby
Sugar dating or sugaring is an interpersonal relationship where one person receives money or gifts in exchange for intimacy or companionship. The provider (called a sugar daddy or sugar mommy) is typically older and wealthier, while the recipi ...
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Treating (dating)
In the social context of dating, treating is the practice of providing companionship and intimate activity in exchange for entertainment outings, gifts, and other items of monetary value. The activity was prevalent in the large urban areas of the ...
References
Further reading
*Chatterji, Minki; Murray, Nancy; London, David and Anglewicz. Philip
The Factors Influencing Transactional Sex Among Young Men and Women in 12 Sub-Saharan African Countries', POLICY Project, October 2004. ''(pdf)''
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Epstein, Helen"The Fidelity Fix" first published in the ''New York Times'', June 13, 2004
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*{{cite journal, first=Suzanne, last=Leclerc-Madlala, title=Transactional Sex and the Pursuit of Modernity, journal=
Social Dynamics: A Journal of African Studies, volume=29, issue=2, pages=213–233, year=2003, doi=10.1080/02533950308628681, hdl=11427/19269, s2cid=143986646, hdl-access=free
*Luke, N.; Kurz, K.
Cross-generational and transactional sexual relations in Sub-Saharan Africa: prevalence of behavior and implications for negotiating safer sexual practices'. International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), USA, 2002. ''(pdf)''