Things You Need To Know Before Paying A Pro.stitute For C.ex

Paying for sex is taboo – nobody wants to admit doing it. It is gross, weird, or even perverse. At least that is what some people say. But there is a huge market for paid sex. Love Matters Africa’s Stephanie Haase takes a look at some of the things you should know about paid sex.

1. What is paid s*x and where does it happen?

S*x workers sell s*x for a variety of reasons, and sometimes it can be a means to buy drugs or because of poverty. Image: Courtesy

Paid sex, or prostitution, means paying someone for sexual services. The payment can be cash, but it can also be through gifts and favors.

The person who is getting paid is called a s*x worker, prostitute or a range of other, often demeaning, words.

S*x workers can be either woman or men. Male sex workers offer their services to other men, too. If they are not gay themselves, this is sometimes called ‘gay-to-pay’.

Sex workers sell sex for a variety of reasons, and sometimes it can be a means to buy drugs or because of poverty. This is known as ‘survival sex’.

There are many places for paid sex. Some sex workers offer their services on the streets, others work in brothels, or as escorts, who offer their services in hotels or private homes.

2. Condomise!

In Kenya, most pro.stitutes see up to five clients a night and only use condoms 60% of the time. Image: essence.com

Because s*x workers get in contact with many different clients, there is a relatively high risk of getting an STDs from a visit. And because that’s not what you are paying for, using condoms is even more important in the sex trade than in other casual sex encounters.

3. Paid s*x and the law

Prostitution in Kenya is illegal. However, s*x tourism remains very popular along the coastal regions. Image: Courtesy

Whether or not you think paying for sex is okay is up to your personal beliefs and ideas. But depending on where you live, paying for s*x, or being paid for sex, can be illegal.

In some countries, like in Russia or China, prostitution is illegal and considered a crime. Elsewhere, like in the Netherlands, prostitution is a legitimate, but regulated, business.