Compensated dating

Compensated Dating

1) Definition and current trend
2) Causes
3) Effects
4) Suggestions
5) Self-refection

Definition and current trend

“Compensated Dating” is a practice which originated from Japan where older men give money or luxurious gifts to attractive women for their companionship and possibly, sexual favours. The nature of compensated dating, mostly known as “Enjo kōsai” is popular among women ranged from primary school-aged girls to housewives. A common misconception is that it always involves some form of sexual activity.

In recent years, more and more teenagers are getting involved in compensated dating all around the world, especially Hong Kong. People may still ask what compensated dating means. Well a simple answer to that is young women agree to go on dates with men for a fee. Although teenagers deny this, it is a form of teenage prostitution. In the year 2003, there was a 70% rise in the number of teen prostitutes who come from middle to upper-middle class families and have never suffered abuse or mistreatment in Hong Kong which parallels to other countries such as the United States.

Causes

In Hong Kong, many teenagers get involved in compensated dating. Why would this phenomenon occur in Hong Kong? At first, some girls want to satisfy their material desire to buy the brand name products which are expensive. Therefore, they participate in such an activity to gain money. They think that compensated dating is the only way for them to gain money easily. Gaining money is a reason pushing teenagers to join compensated dating. Some adolescents would even feel relaxed and glad when they could buy something they like very much.

On the other hand, some teenagers do not have a clear understanding about compensated dating which is new and exciting to them. They are not aware of the results and the possible negative outcomes of compensated dating. Therefore, some naïve teenagers want to have a try on it.

Moreover, teenagers are pushed to commit into compensated dating also because of the lack of parental care. Parental care is a driving factor because nowadays, parents are busy with work and they do not have enough time to spend quality time with their sons or daughters and give them love and care. When teenagers join compensated dating, they may receive a sense of ‘security’ and think that the men who are dating them are legitimately taking care of them. Teenagers believe that they can gain ‘love’ in compensated dating when parental care is insufficient.

Effects

http://web02.carmelss.edu.hk/buddingwriters/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1267:compensated-dating-in-hong-kong&catid=118&Itemid=122

http://asianuniverse.net/forums/Rising_trend_of_compensated_dating_in_secondary_schools_t160011.html