Advertisement

Putting a stop to student prostitution

Putting a stop to student prostitution
Putting a stop to student prostitution


© Thinkstock

Student prostitution is not a new problem, not by a long way. All the same, it has always been a real taboo. On the point of being trivialised within the student community, it goes hand in hand with crisis and insecurity, but not just this: the internet and its wide access to different options contributes to the growth of the problem. Some universities have become alarmed by this. The University of Poitiers started to become interested in this phenomenon in 2008 and Dr. Marie Pluzanski, in charge of preventative medicine there, explains that: “it was not so much during medical consultations that the issue was unearthed. It was during meetings with welfare services who were analysing students’ budgets, that doubtful issues first appeared”. In fact, the details of their rent, expenses and income were very vague. These questions led to initiatives to raise awareness and try and prevent the problem, so that street corners did not turn into a job like any other.

Cheap flats, casual jobs...

“The rent wasn’t very expensive, but I couldn’t pay it off” Stephanie, 19, who gradually started to offer sexual favours to her social landlord. “A photographer offered me a book free of charge to help me, but it had a hidden cost behind it” admits Julie, 21. “I responded to ads so I could make ends meet at the end of the month” confides Erwan, 19. These students, most of them young girls but also young men, did not walk the streets of course. Student prostitution takes a different form.

Turning to offering sexual services happens when money gets out of control. “This can be when a student starts giving sexual favours by way of paying rent, which happens often,” the doctor says, or also during casual jobs... which mostly do not have proper contracts; for example, a job as a hostess in a bar or a masseuse in a hotel... and whatever extra services might be agreed. These occupations clearly lead to the possibility of prostitution. The only difference between this and going on the game? Sexual encounters are at the place of work, like a hotel. In all these cases, students find themselves in ambiguous situations, and will find themselves drawn into things they did not sign up for in the first place.


Prostitution can equally be a deliberate choice however! “The internet is bursting with classified ads for sexual services in exchange for money under the title “dates” Dr. Marie Pluzanski complains. In this sense, it is nothing more than a trap.

Student prostitution: the real dangers

Theoretically, there aren’t too many complications associated with occasional prostitution. “Students prepare themselves so they disconnect full stop for an hour during an encounter” Dr. Marie Pluzanski tells us. But it is not as simple as that. It can happen that emotions start somehow blurring messages. “Those who turn to using these services can be in a situation of distress themselves” the doctor adds. There is an emotional need which students are not prepared for, and this can make things complicated. But there are more dangerous things than that!

Students can also encounter situations where a customer is perverted or violent. Contrary to street prostitution, where prostitutes keep an eye on each other sometimes, each student prostitute will find herself alone with her ‘punter’. The secretiveness which shrouds the meeting means she will always be isolated. Students can also find themselves confronted with unprotected sex and can be exposed to sexually transmitted diseases.

Collateral damage...

Prostitution is not a natural thing. More often than not, to give herself courage, a student prostitute may resort to alcohol... Behaviour which turns more and more into a habit.

Apart from this, encounters take place generally in the evening, and over the long term this could disrupt studies.

The psychological consequences in terms of self-esteem are equally far from insignificant. Sex as a job is rarely an opportunity for self discovery or development, and more than this, it can lead to difficulty experiencing sexual relations where sex is not a commodity bought for money.

The harmful effects of these activities are never immediate. “You only discover all the implications they could have ten or fifteen years later” the doctor warns.

What is behind student prostitution

The number of students in this precarious position in increasing. Working to finance studies has become the norm. “There are more and more families who have trouble supporting their children” Dr. Marie Pluzanski states. All the same, we cannot put prostitution down to this completely, even if it is probable that there is a link. According to our expert: “the explosion of internet ads is another determining factor”. Those who wish to pay for sex in a “disguised” way are spoilt for choice. On the one hand there are ads and dedicated sites for ‘escorts’, and on the other, students offering their ‘services’ and who post ads themselves individually.

Another noticeable fact is that student prostitution is a phenomenon which can spiral out of control. At the beginning, an individual might do it once or twice, and then the temptation to earn more money can easily threaten. Stress from studying and the precariousness of our consumer society play a part in this. Similarly, there can also be coercing on the part of “employers” or customers. Getting out of it is never easy!

Putting a stop to student prostitution

In reality, it is very difficult to know if this phenomenon is spreading or not. It is difficult to rely on the statistics. However, running awareness campaigns can help to prevent these activities which must, under no circumstances, be trivialised. Dr. Marie Pluzanski is clear on this: “Talking about it is essential. Today, it can be seen from conversations on this topic that people are beginning to discuss it more. It is possible to gather first-hand accounts which will encourage us to take more action”. All this can ensure that prostitution during university does not become an inevitability!

1 - Prevention of Student Prostitution Day. Dare to talk.

University Preventative Medicine, CROUS, University of Poitiers and Student Union of Poitiers (AFEP) take action once more.


Catherine Maillard

More information:
Is alcohol more harmful than crack or heroine?
Safe sex
How Do You Feel About Your Body? Take A Quiz!