A Commentary on Hong Kong's Sugar Babies

By Joannaline Casasola Young

The sex slave industry has been a large concern in almost every country in the world.  This crime is on a level far greater than any other crime as these young children are forced to give up their innocence.  However, what happens when sexual workers are willing participants?  What if these people are just working for a little extra cash?  Furthermore, what would you think of the notion that they do not see themselves as prostitutes?  For awhile, I’ve been catching up on the media’s representations of these workers.  Tyra Banks did a show on those who worked on the Bunny Ranch in Las Vegas, Nevada.  ABC News did a special on “True Confessions of a Sugar Baby”. Lisa Ling did a story on sex trafficking in India.  Memoirs of a Geisha showed the ancient practice enjo kousai.

However, recently I’ve come across a story of young schoolgirls who have sex with men for shopping money.  They call it “compensated dating” which has a much less harsh connotation than prostitution.  It was interesting in the fact that it seemed to occur because of a trend-similar to having the latest apple product or wearing the newest name brand clothes.  Most of the girls I have mentioned before, work in the industry to make ends meet (even though there are many ways to work legitimately).  Before we look down on these girls let’s take into consideration their environment.  These girls feel they must conform to live a normal life.  Yes many of the girls who could afford expensive clothing go on to be the queens of homecoming and prom.  However, in the long run what do material goods like these give them? Does it give them better jobs?  More loving husbands?

As an Asian myself, in high school I struggled with my image because I could not have the latest trendy clothes or designer shoes.  The people who did were the most popular.  However, prostituting myself to get those items was never an option because of my beliefs.  Contrarily in Hong Kong, compensated dating is a norm and everyone in “your class is doing it so why shouldn’t you”?

I believe that in the case of the Hong Kong sugar babies, the government should intervene based on the fact that these girls are underage.  What does the general public think? Did this article change the way you view prostitution?

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Posted by joannaline on October 19, 2009. Filed under Human Interest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.