‘Bus fare please’: the economics of sex and gifts among young people in urban South Africa

Kaufman, Carol E.; Stavrou, Stavros

doi:10.1080/13691050410001680492

Cited by 140 publications

(127 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Although, previous research has examined this issue, 8,9 most of this research has focused on runaway or street youth or youth in international settings. [10][11][12] This research has produced invaluable knowledge; however, research on trading sex for money among urban youth who have lost a parent to prison or drug addiction is scarce. This paper is timely and relevant given the mass incarceration within the urban African-American community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlates of the Sex Trade among African–American Youth Living in Urban Public Housing: Assessing the Role of Parental Incarceration and Parental Substance Use

et al. 2013

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African-American youth are disproportionately affected by parental incarceration and the consequences of parental substance use. Many adapt to the loss of their parents to prison or drug addiction by engaging in sex-risk behavior, particularly the sex trade. These youth may engage in this risky behavior for a number of reasons. Although previous research has examined this issue, most of these studies have focused on runaway or street youth or youth in international settings. Empirical evidence on correlates of trading sex for money among urban African-American youth is practically missing. Using a sample of 192 African-American youth living in urban public housing, this paper attempts to rectify this gap in knowledge by assessing how individual and parental factors are related to the likelihood of a youth trading sex for money. The sample for this study reported a mean age of 19; 28 % reported having traded sex for money; 30 % had a father currently in prison; and 7 % reported having a mother currently in prison. Maternal incarceration and paternal substance use were associated with a higher likelihood of trading sex for money. Given the potential health risks associated with trading sex for money, understanding correlates of this behavior has important implications for the health of this vulnerable population of youth and urban health in general.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlates of the Sex Trade among African–American Youth Living in Urban Public Housing: Assessing the Role of Parental Incarceration and Parental Substance Use

et al. 2013

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“…Often referred to as transactional sex, it is a motive for women to have sex in situations where they might otherwise refrain (Hunter, 2002;Jewkes, Vundule et al, 2001;Kaufman & Stavrou, 2004;MacPhail & Campbell, 2001;Meekers & Calves, 1997;Nyanzi, Pool et al, 2001;Wood & Jewkes, 2001), and has been noted as a potential source of women's vulnerability to genderbased violence and sexual exploitation (Dunkle, Jewkes et al, 2004a;Luke, 2003;Nyanzi, Pool, & Kinsman, 2001;Wojcicki & Malala, 2001). Research in a number of sub-Saharan African contexts has conclusively demonstrated that exchange of sex for material resources is common practice, and that the vast majority of women who engage in such transactions do not identify as sex workers (Hunter, 2002;Leclerc-Madlala, 2003;Luke, 2003;MacPhail & Campbell, 2001;Matasha, Ntembelea et al, 1998;Nyanzi, Pool, & Kinsman, 2001;Nzyuko, Lurie et al, 1997;Silberschmidt & Rasch, 2001;Wojcicki & Malala, 2001;Wood & Jewkes, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Transactional sex among women is often motivated by basic survival and subsistence needs (Hunter, 2002;Leclerc-Madlala, 2003;Luke, 2003;Wojcicki, 2002) but young women whose access to resources is circumscribed may also use transactional sex to help advance their education, gain employment or business opportunities, or simply achieve higher status in youth cultures which prioritise conspicuous consumption (Hunter, 2002;Kaufman & Stavrou, 2004;Leclerc-Madlala, 2001;Luke, 2003;Nyanzi, Pool, & Kinsman, 2001;Silberschmidt & Rasch, 2001). Of particular concern is the way in which financial or material need can introduce an explicit power imbalance into sexual relations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of course, gift and transaction motives can coexist and overlap, and there may not always be a shared understanding between the parties involved as to the meaning of a particular transfer (Carrier, 1991;Luke, 2005a). Nonetheless, the distinction between gifts and transactions is critically important because while gifts often form an integral part of courtship or expressions of care and affection within relationships, they may not be a critical motivating factor underpinning the existence of the relationship or motivating a particular sexual encounter (Hunter, 2002;Kaufman & Stavrou, 2004;Luke, 2005a). It is important to ascertain the extent to which a given transfer -or the existence of a given relationship involving regular transfers -is understood by either party to be fundamentally transactional rather than gift-based as this has potentially important implications for understanding the power dynamics surrounding sexual decision making.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In many cultural settings, and certainly within South Africa, casual and secondary sexual relationships seem far more likely than main partnerships to be driven explicitly by transactional motives. While the balance of financial and economic power may of course impact the dynamics of sexual decision making within main partnerships, these negotiations are perforce also influenced by considerably more complex relational discourses including love, trust, commitment, and childbearing (Hunter, 2002;Kaufman & Stavrou, 2004;Leclerc-Madlala, 2003;Luke, 2005a;Meekers & Calves, 1997;Wood & Jewkes, 2001). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transactional sex with casual and main partners among young South African men in the rural Eastern Cape: Prevalence, predictors, and associations with gender-based violence

Dunkle

Jewkes

Nduna

et al. 2007

Social Science & Medicine

263

256

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We explored the prevalence and predictors of transactional sex with casual partners and main girlfriends among 1,288 men aged 15-26 from 70 villages in the rural Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with young men enrolling in the Stepping Stones HIV prevention trial. A total of 17.7% of participants reported giving material resources or money to casual sex partners and 6.6% received resources from a casual partner. Transactionally motivated relationships with main girlfriends were more balanced between giving (14.9%) and getting (14.3%). We constructed multivariable models to identify the predictors for giving and for getting material resources in casual and in main relationships. Each model resulted in remarkably similar predictors. All four types of exchange were associated with higher socio-economic status, more adverse childhood experiences, more lifetime sexual partners, and alcohol use. Men who were more resistant to peer pressure to have sex were less likely to report transactional sex with casual partners, and men who reported more equitable gender attitudes were less likely to report main partnerships underpinned by exchange. The most consistent predictor of all four types of transaction was the perpetration of intimate partner violence and rape against women other than a main partner. The strong and consistent association between perpetration of gender-based violence and both giving and getting material goods from female partners suggests that transactional sex in both main and casual relationships can be viewed within a broader continuum of men's exercise of gendered power Corresponding Author

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Commercial sexual exploitation of children in Zimbabwe: A threat to human and social development

et al. 2022

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Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in child sex work is reportedly rising in Zimbabwe. While children of both sexes are affected, more females than males are forced to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money, food, access to shelter, education or some other gains from adults who control these means of survival and commodities. Drivers of CSEC include socioeconomic factors, negative peer pressure, childhood abuse, the influence of uncensored social media, and, more recently, the economic impact of COVID-19. Involvement in underage sex work exposes children to severe adversities, such as psychosocial and mental health disorders, physical and biological injuries, venereal diseases and HIV. CSEC is a growing concern for resource-limited countries, disenfranchises children and robs particularly the girl child of a better future. The worsening socioeconomic landscape in Zimbabwe and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the problem. Solving the problem of CSEC requires a multipronged approach that involves stakeholders from several sectors, including public health, education, social services, security and the legal fraternity. There is a need to empower communities, empower civil society and development partners, enhance legal frameworks, provide messaging, education and vocational training, as well as rehabilitative services for affected children and their families. CSEC is a violation of the child's rights and a public health concern that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency to preserve the next generation's human capital necessary for the sustainable development of Zimbabwe. K E Y W O R D S child sex work, CSEC, Zimbabwe Key Practitioner Messages • Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is reportedly rising in Zimbabwe. • The worsening socioeconomic landscape in the country and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem. • Involvement in underage sex work exposes children to severe social and health-related adversities. • Drivers of CSEC are multifaceted and require equally complex solutions.• In this discussion article, the authors unpack CSEC in Zimbabwe and proffer solutions for combatting this harmful practice.

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‘Bus fare please’: the economics of sex and gifts among young people in urban South Africa

Cited by 140 publications

References 11 publications

Correlates of the Sex Trade among African–American Youth Living in Urban Public Housing: Assessing the Role of Parental Incarceration and Parental Substance Use

Correlates of the Sex Trade among African–American Youth Living in Urban Public Housing: Assessing the Role of Parental Incarceration and Parental Substance Use

Transactional sex with casual and main partners among young South African men in the rural Eastern Cape: Prevalence, predictors, and associations with gender-based violence

Commercial sexual exploitation of children in Zimbabwe: A threat to human and social development

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