So the recent budget revealed that the Conservatives will be scrapping grants given to students from less well-off backgrounds helping them with their maintenance costs throughout University. Seeing as these grants will be largely replaced with loans, many argue that this won't negatively effect British students, after all they will still have access to the money the only difference being that they have to pay it back now. However, there is a curious link with sex work being done by students in order to earn money and reduce their debts.
In a recent study carried out by Swansea University, 22% of British students admitted to considering working in the sex industry, while 5% of students actually did. They also found that 45% of these students were entering into the sex industry in order to avoid debt.
With the typical university student finishing their studies with around £44,000 of debt, the new plans put in place by the Tory government are likely to aggravate this situation. Perhaps with rising debts more and more students will be driven into sex work as a quick way to make money.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the study that was carried out, was the fact that more men than women admitted to working in the sex industry. This is a significant finding as it is stereotypically thought that women are more likely to enter into this industry, however this study suggested otherwise. This could either show the fact that this issue is becoming evermore widespread, and that men are suffering more, or it could be due to the fact that men felt more able to admit to being involved in this particular industry. Either way this definitely shows that this is something which effects both male and female students and therefore an issue which needs addressing.
The fact that 49% of those involved in direct sex work had a fear of violence also demonstrates the severity of the issue, and the necessity to better protect those involved. It is important that universities take measures to educate students about sex work and hopefully the recent cuts to grants won't exacerbate the problem. But ultimately the our current method regarding university fees is clearly not ideal if so many young people are being forced into sex work.
Written by Lili
Picture credit: Ellen
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