# Is it unethical for a single young woman to trade sex for services? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 22, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225 "2013-07-22T18:32:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/1 "2013-07-22T18:32:44Z")
Let’s say you have a young, single woman who does not make much money. Her car which she requires to get to work needs a few hundred dollars worth of parts and work to keep running. Her credit is not good and she cannot afford to pay this amount. If she makes an arrangement to trade sexual favors for this needed work with a single male mechanic has she done anything wrong ethically if both parties are satisfied with the transaction? Both parties understand this is a transaction and there is no expectation of any personal type of relationship after mutual services have been delivered. Please note I understand that this may be illegal in certain areas, but I am not asking for a legal judgment, I am asking as to your personal view of the ethical envelope of the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/2 "2013-07-22T18:37:11Z")
If she makes the offer it is prostitution, and if he makes the offer it is sexual harassment. Do you consider either to be ethical? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/3 "2013-07-22T18:41:37Z")
I once asked a cop this question: If the woman asks for money before or after sex, or if the man offers money before sex, it’s illegal. However, if the man offers money after sex it is not illegal. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/4 "2013-07-22T18:43:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If she makes the offer it is prostitution, and if he makes the offer it is sexual harassment. Do you consider either to be ethical? OK would it be _more_ ethical if she offers to clean his house for a month? ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/5 "2013-07-22T18:44:38Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If she makes the offer it is prostitution, and if he makes the offer it is sexual harassment. Do you consider either to be ethical? Well, given the question it’s undeniably prostitution. Which I find an ethical activity, if not one I’d engage in. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/6 "2013-07-22T18:45:40Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Please note I understand that this may be illegal in certain areas, but I am not asking for a legal judgment, I am asking as to your personal view of the ethical envelope of the situation. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I once asked a cop this question: If the woman asks for money before or after sex, or if the man offers money before sex, it’s illegal. However, if the man offers money after sex it is not illegal. Ah, the dope. Answering the question not asked, 100% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/7 "2013-07-22T18:47:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If she makes the offer it is prostitution, and if he makes the offer it is sexual harassment. Do you consider either to be ethical? Do you? ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/8 "2013-07-22T18:48:01Z")
Nope. It’s totally fine. I don’t even know how some would consider this to be unethical. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/9 "2013-07-22T18:48:23Z")
If both hold an equal amount of power before, during, and after the exchange and there is no coercion involved, I don’t see what’s unethical about it. Illegal, yes. Unethical, so long as no one is being harmed, it’s none of my business and my personal code of ethics does not apply. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/10 "2013-07-22T18:52:01Z")
If they are both satisfied by the arrangement and it’s consensual between adults, let them go for it. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/11 "2013-07-22T18:52:20Z")
None of my business, whether I admire or disadmire the transaction. _Keep walking_. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/12 "2013-07-22T18:55:33Z")
Fine by me. I’d just be concerned about the situation being exploitative, so as always it depends on the context. But assuming both people are happy, then I don’t see anything wrong with it. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/13 "2013-07-22T18:57:35Z")
But, it’s _ **sex!!11!1!** _ :eek: ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/14 "2013-07-22T18:57:35Z")
It would have been perfectly legal in Rhode Island for a while if the transactions were conducted indoors. In that case I see nothing unethical about it. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/15 "2013-07-22T19:00:19Z")
Here is the way it is done, girl comes by and has sex with you. After sex she casually mentions her car needs a repair, you kindly offer to fix it. Happens all the time, I don’t see any difference. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/16 "2013-07-22T19:02:48Z")
> [@astro](#): > > OK would it be _more_ ethical if she offers to clean his house for a month? [Housewife Charged In Sex-For-Security Scam](http://www.theonion.com/articles/housewife-charged-in-sexforsecurity-scam,948/) > [@The Onion](#): > > AKRON, OH—Area resident Helen Crandall, 44, was arrested by Akron police Sunday, charged with conducting an elaborate “sex-for-security” scam in which she allegedly defrauded husband Russell Crandall out of nearly $230,000 in cash, food, clothing and housing over the past 19 years using periodic offers of sexual intercourse. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/17 "2013-07-22T19:06:41Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Here is the way it is done, girl comes by and has sex with you. What does this mean? A girl drops by the local gas station snags the mechanic and pulls him in the john? Then mentions she’s having some car trouble? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/18 "2013-07-22T19:09:10Z")
as long as both people are freely, fairly, openly and honestly making a trade then it is ethical. i’ve often helped friends and neighbors out with work who then offered a meal. if they offered sex then that would be ok too (for some of them). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/19 "2013-07-22T19:17:41Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Do you? I think it’s ethical if she makes the offer freely, but if he makes the proposition I don’t think it’s as ethical. In either case it would be wrong logically to accept the offer for health reasons. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225/20 "2013-07-22T19:21:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think it’s ethical if she makes the offer freely, but if he makes the proposition I don’t think it’s as ethical. In either case it would be wrong logically to accept the offer for health reasons. Why is it unethical for him to make the proposition? What health reasons make this unethical? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-single-young-woman-to-trade-sex-for-services/664225.md?page=2)