Students’ perspectives of providing sexual acts, materials, and services for financial compensation at a large, public, Midwestern university

Abstract

Objective: To understand university students’ experiences with sex trading for financial compensation at a large public, Midwestern university. Participants: 34 university students (26.5% graduate, 70% white, 70% cisgender women, 38% heterosexual). Method: We used a community-engaged, directed content analytic approach to analyze semi-structured, in-depth interviews with st udents who were familiar with sex trading. Results: Students perceive sex trading to include (1) selling personal items or fluids for another’s sexual pleasure, (2) virtual sex trades, and (3) in-person sex trades. Students were motivated by financial needs and wants, work flexibility and conditions, curiosity and empowerment. Consequences were positive (e.g., supporting themselves, community) and negative (e.g., blackmail, detrimental health effects). While negative consequences had deleterious effects on students’ wellbeing, the benefits were viewed as critical. Conclusions: Findings call for harm reduction approaches that span campus services, university and federal policies. Future research should explore students’ experiences in differing academic and regional contexts.