Empowerment or exploitation? An analysis of young women’s experiences in compensated dating

This article unfolds the dynamics of the lived experiences of young women who provide sex and intimacy to men through compensated dating (CD), often regarded as a form of adolescent prostitution. Inspired by intersectionality and rational choice theory, this article argues that the experiences of female CD providers are complex and varied, thus should not be simplified into dichotomous discussions of empowerment versus exploitation. Drawing from 19 in-depth interviews with female CD providers, eight types of CD experiences are identified based on three interrelated components: sexual agency, sexual pleasure, and financial gain.