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British students opt for sex work to pay debt

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London, March 27
A study conducted by Britain's University of Swansea reveals that more than a fifth of students have thought about being involved in the sex industry.

The study says nearly 5 percent (one in 20 students) of them had actually worked in the sex industry and male students were more likely to become involved than women, Asian Lite newspaper reported citing the study.

The work in the sex industry ranged from stripping, phone sex chat, erotic dancing to prostitution. It included escort work but also work which did not involve direct contact such as webcam work and glamour modelling.

The Student Sex Work Project was carried out by Swansea University's Centre for Criminal Justice and Criminology and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. About 6,750 students from across Britain took part in an online study by Swansea University in Wales.

Lack of money is the biggest factor driving students into sex work as they struggle to cope with 9,000 pounds-a-year tuition fees. Most of the graduates will clock up around 50,000 pounds debt while completing their studies.

Nearly two-thirds were motivated to earn money to fund a lifestyle, but 45 percent wanted to avoid debt, the study reveals.

Fifty nine percent thought they would enjoy the work, 54 percent were "curious", 45 percent wanted to work in the industry and 44 percent were motivated by sexual pleasure. Of those who had worked, more than half was for less than six months, or for less than five hours a week.

Some 76 percent of students engaged in the sex industry reported that they felt safe in their work "always" or "very often" but 49 percent involved in direct sex work had a fear of violence.

Tracey Sagar, who co-led the study, told Asian Lite that stereotyping was a problem and the discovery that more men were involved in the sex industry than was commonly thought was "significant finding".

"Sex work is widely but wrongly perceived to be an occupation that is predominantly taken up by women and this means that males may fall through the student support net because they are not associated with sex work occupations," she said.

"We now have firm evidence that students are engaged in the sex industry across the UK,” Sagar said.

"The majority of these students keep their occupations secret and this is because of social stigma and fears of being judged by family and friends. And, we have to keep in mind that not all students engaged in the industry are safe or feel safe."

She said it was vital universities better understood student sex work issues.

The study was carried out online. The research started in Wales and nearly half of those who took part were at Welsh colleges.

The project carried out extensive research and also provided e-health services and support for students who are engaged in the sex industry.

Furthermore the project provided sexual health information to the broader student population. This innovative project has made an important contribution to advancing knowledge and understanding of student sex work in Wales and across Britain while providing vital support and information for students at the same time.

The service provision element of the project included online sexual health information, an online forum for student sex worker project members, net-reach support as well as one-to-one counselling for project members who are engaged in occupations in the sex industry.

(Anasudhin Azeez can be contacted at [email protected])