Young Dutch People's Experiences of Trading Sex: A Qualitative Study

In recent years, the subject of transactional sex among young Dutch people has generated a heated social debate in the Netherlands. However, accurate data on this phenomenon are scarce. This article describes the findings of a qualitative study on young Dutch people's experiences of having sex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of sex research 2012-11, Vol.49 (6), p.547-557
Main Authors: van de Walle, Robert, Picavet, Charles, van Berlo, Willy, Verhoeff, Arnoud
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior - psychology
Adolescents
Coercion
Dutch people
Emotions
Ethnicity
Female
Gender
Gender roles
Homeless Persons - psychology
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Men
Money
Netherlands
Prostitution
Qualitative Research
Rewards
Risk-Taking
Sex Work - psychology
Sex workers
Sexual intercourse
Sexual orientation
Sexual Partners - psychology
Shame
Social Perception
Socioeconomic Factors
Trading
Unsafe Sex - psychology
Women
Women's Health
Young Adult
Young adults
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Summary:In recent years, the subject of transactional sex among young Dutch people has generated a heated social debate in the Netherlands. However, accurate data on this phenomenon are scarce. This article describes the findings of a qualitative study on young Dutch people's experiences of having sex in return for money or a material reward. Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with young Dutch men and women aged 14 to 24. Participants came from diverse backgrounds in terms of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Experiences of trading sex differed in terms of the motivation to trade sex, the presence or absence of coercion, and the availability of other options for earning money. Participants' feelings about their experiences varied. For most participants, the sex itself was unpleasant and required considerable emotion management. Still, some felt adequately compensated by the reward or felt trading sex was preferable to other jobs. Gender played an important role, with feelings of disgust or shame reported especially by female participants, whereas male participants reported more positive experiences. Interactions involving coercion or financial dependence on trading sex generally had a negative emotional impact. Participants stressed the differences between their own experiences and professional prostitution.
ISSN:0022-4499
1559-8519
DOI:10.1080/00224499.2011.618955