As the cost to attend universities rises, more and more college students turn to sex work to pay the exorbitant price to get an education and avoid graduating drowning in debt. What's worse is, the institutions have ignored the issue.
According to a report from the Independent, experts, as well as students, believe that colleges are "burying their heads in the sand" when it comes to how widespread the situation is, especially since so much of it happens online through webcams and apps. As many as 10 percent of young people seeking a degree have turned to this type of job to pay. However, instead of attempting to provide support, in some cases, universities actually block groups that try to help students who've turned to prostitution to pay for college. In some instances, the institutions even threaten to take action against students working in this manner because of the moral implications involved in such professions.
The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP), a group that wants to see prostitution decriminalized, revealed that in the past year, the number of students reaching out to it for help increased in 2018. ECP spokesperson Laura Watson said, "We have found that people are mostly working for everyday needs. But some people are definitely working to pay off the tuition fees."
The ECP wants colleges to support students who are also sex workers instead of ostracizing them for their choice. The group found many instances where colleges threatened to kick out students who've opened up about prostitution instead of helping them as they attempt to leave the profession. Unfortunately, universities experience backlash by merely offering a support group for students involved in these jobs because some people feel it looks as if the institutions encourage sex work as a viable way to pay for an education.
Students want to avoid financial hardship, which is a big reason why so many have needed help lately. However, some people are turning to more than apps or other online activities, and are instead offering "full service" options for their clients.
