# Prostitution for desperate women... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 18, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261 "2015-03-18T04:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/21 "2015-03-18T18:27:53Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Go to The Gambia, or Sri Lanka, or the Dominican Republic, and you’ll find plenty. Female sex tourism is very much a thing. > > One factor is that women have typically been financially dependent on their husbands, and so extra-marital goings on are potentially more dangerous than for a primary earner. I have a friend who was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Gambia, and he says that it’s pretty much every Gambian’s life goal to move to Europe or America, and for a lot of Gambian men that takes the form of hoping to marry a rich European woman. (Even working class by European standards is of course pretty well off by Gambian ones). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/22 "2015-03-18T19:19:35Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Yes, but as Aanamika pointed out, the risk and reward curves for that woman taking a random man home from a bar is usually different than for a man taking a random woman home from a bar. > > Women are more likely to suffer from violence from men than vice versa. > Women get pregnant, men don’t. > Women are more likely to get infected with an STD than a man. > Women are less likely to get physical enjoyment out of a random sexual encounter. > Women are less likely to get emotional enjoyment out of a random sexual encounter. > Women are more likely to suffer social consequences from a random sexual encounter. Your question was, “why don’t more women pay for sex?” I gave a reason. Aanamika added a bunch of other good reasons for them not to, but it doesn’t invalidate my reason: women who aren’t worried about the above aren’t likely to feel they need to pay for something they can get for free. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/23 "2015-03-18T20:29:22Z")
> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > I have a friend who was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Gambia, and he says that it’s pretty much every Gambian’s life goal to move to Europe or America, and for a lot of Gambian men that takes the form of hoping to marry a rich European woman. (Even working class by European standards is of course pretty well off by Gambian ones). That exists, for sure. It exists both as purely cynical visa bait, and in more genuinely romantic forms. What I’m talking about is actual sex tourism. There are certain countries where lonely middle age women go in order to spend time, typically at beach resorts, in the company of very fit, very attractive young men. These men provide short term companionship and sometimes sex. In exchange, they get an all-expenses paid week at a nice resort, and the prospect of cash “gifts” to “help with their education” or some other polite fiction.There is just enough plausible deniability built in that maybe the less reflective can fool themselves into believing they are just getting very lucky vacation flings, but in reality everyone knows what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![Umbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Umbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/24 "2015-03-18T20:53:00Z")
I think it’s important to keep in mind that prostitution is, for the most part, illegal in many American States, barring people from selling sex. So, the above stories, if they ever occur in the United States, must occur clandestinely and/or with a lot of sugar-coating. In contrast, consensual casual sex hook-ups on college campuses and elsewhere don’t appear to be at all illegal. Though, if they were, they must be extremely difficult to enforce… and with the USA being a very permissive society, I wouldn’t find it surprising if casual sex is not illegal at all. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/25 "2015-03-18T20:56:30Z")
> [@Umbridge](#): > > consensual casual sex hook-ups on college campuses and elsewhere don’t appear to be at all illegal. Though, if they were, they must be extremely difficult to enforce… **and with the USA being a very permissive society, I wouldn’t find it surprising if casual sex is not illegal at all.** What world are you in? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/26 "2015-03-18T21:49:03Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What world are you in? 😕 Wow, someone didn’t get the last update in the “How Hoo-mans Work” guide. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/27 "2015-03-18T22:58:38Z")
Casual sex is not illegal, but you can still get pulled over for it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/28 "2015-03-19T11:12:54Z")
> [@Umbridge](#): > > I think it’s important to keep in mind that prostitution is, for the most part, illegal in many American States, barring people from selling sex. Damn! I _demand_ a refund.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/29 "2015-03-19T16:12:43Z")
**Umbridge** is definitely not an alien, nor is he a robot pretending to be human. He is definitely a human person who enjoys human activities like volleyballs, snorkeling, television program viewing, and nose-blowing. [Definitely](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18184603&postcount=37). ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/30 "2015-03-19T22:14:09Z")
So many good reason all ready stated, so I will just mention that there is no reason why a woman, especially an attractive woman may need male prostitutes. They’ll give it to her for free. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/31 "2015-03-19T22:22:47Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > **Umbridge** is definitely not an alien, nor is he a robot pretending to be human. He is definitely a human person who enjoys human activities like volleyballs, snorkeling, television program viewing, and nose-blowing. [Definitely](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18184603&postcount=37). Damn. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/32 "2015-03-20T00:10:50Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Damn. Doubled dog damn. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/33 "2015-03-22T10:01:31Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What world are you in? 😕 A world where Eleanor Roosevelt contracted polio from a black man, then passed it on the FDR, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/34 "2015-03-22T12:25:12Z")
> [@Umbridge](#): > > … and with the USA being a very permissive society, I wouldn’t find it surprising if casual sex is not illegal at all. In some, perhaps most states, laws exist that criminalize “casual sex.” It is widely believed that in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in _Lawrence v. Texas_, those laws are constitutionally infirm. But until judicially challenged by someone charged under them, or removed by the legislature, they remain, unused and unenforced. Virginia criminally prosecuted a man for adultery in 2004. The man pled guilty, receiving a sentence of 20 hours community service. Georgia prosecuted a fornication case in 2003, but I can’t find details on the disposition. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/35 "2015-03-22T12:57:11Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Anyway, I read a report not too long ago that points out women would probably have casual sex just as often as men. The rewards just aren’t there. Women DO have casual sex just as often as men. You’ve done a great job of elucidating the pedestal problem, while still falling prey to it. Every time a heterosexual man is having casual heterosexual sex, a heterosexual woman is having casual sex. Every single time. Just as often as men. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/36 "2015-03-22T13:05:38Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Every time a heterosexual man is having casual heterosexual sex, a heterosexual woman is having casual sex. Every single time. Just as often as men. Except for the situations where the guy is having casual sex while allowing the woman to mistakenly believe it is so much more than that. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/37 "2015-03-22T13:30:27Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Except for the situations where the guy is having casual sex while allowing the woman to mistakenly believe it is so much more than that. I suppose it depends on one’s definition of “casual sex”. In this context, I’d use it synonymously with “sex outside of marriage or formalized domestic partnership,” which is not an uncommon definition. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/38 "2015-03-22T13:42:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Except for the situations where the guy is having casual sex while allowing the woman to mistakenly believe it is so much more than that. You mean… When a cad has led a trusting woman down the primrose path, to a fate worse than death?! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/39 "2015-03-22T13:47:32Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > You mean… When a cad has led a trusting woman down the primrose path, to a fate worse than death?! I LOL’d! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261/40 "2015-03-22T13:59:35Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Every time a heterosexual man is having casual heterosexual sex, a heterosexual woman is having casual sex. Every single time. Just as often as men. But it’s not necessarily mathematically equally distributed. Say that 10 out of 10 men in a given population have had casual sex with one particular woman (1 particular woman out of 10 women in a given population.) The other nine women don’t have casual sex. In that case, 100% of the men have had casual sex with a woman, but only 10% of the women have had casual sex with a man. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prostitution-for-desperate-women/715261.md?page=3)