Even in recession-worn Ireland with its booming dog-washing courses and rampant unemployment I never thought I'd read that students were turning to prostitution.
Yet according to an article in the Irish Independent, CorkStudentNews.com and the Union of Students in Ireland, Irish students are turning to escorting and sugar babying to help pay their way through college and ultimately life.
"We've been hearing more and more about students having to go to these lengths [prostituting] to pay for their education and I think it's a shocking indictment of the state of the country," the Union of Students in Ireland's President, Gary Redmond, told the newspaper, confirming rumours that this was starting to be a problem in Dublin.
This isn't actually new, though. I was surprised to dig up an article in the Irish Independent written in 2007 which was about more or less the same thing.
"Escort agencies are encouraging students to take up work as prostitutes," the daily newspaper found.
"The Irish Independent has learned that many students are turning to prostitution to fund increasingly costly college lifestyles, in some cases estimated at more than €7,000 a year." If this was starting to be a problem in 2007, I guess it's only logical that it's rearing its head again when times really have gone bust.
This latest phenomenon is pretty grim reading for a student-body already suffering from seeming uncontrollable student emigration and a mounting fees crisis.
It's an unfortunate thing to happen, but when people are desperate for money, they'll do anything.
What the articles really highlight, though, is the urgency of the problem facing Irish students today.
When you hear of Irish students launching a 'policy document', such as the one the USi has tabled to fight student unemployment, you tend to think of of unemployment and emigration as a long term thing, but for many students, graduating Irish universities and colleges in 2010 or 2011, the problem is right around the corner.
Hopefully those forced to leave Ireland will at least be able to do so without having had to prostitute themselves to pay for the flights.
When you have to say that sentence, it's a fairly bad state of affairs indeed.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.bogsidebunny | Jan 04, 2011, 01:58 AM EST
If you're 18 years old you're an ADULT. If an adult wants to sell their body then so be it. Funny how the 18 year olds drink, take drugs and screw their mates. That's OK, so why not earn some money doing what comes natural? Because the Irish are Moral hypocrites. They think they are above the "immoral" American trash. AND, a college education is a human right. That's a classic example of Liberal, Socialist indoctrination for you!
cuddlybuddly | Jan 03, 2011, 09:38 AM EST
Take a look at the meat market for a moment, supply and demand, who is willing to pay money for sex? who controls the sex industry? why is it such a huge success? when women need money they will do anything...who has the money in the first place? what the hell is really going on?
seagreen | Oct 27, 2010, 12:48 PM EDT
The students turning tricks are just an extension of the system that indirectly promotes this type of thing in order to override the lack of resources. They are just the physical counterparts of the real estate agents.....
jmichael | Oct 23, 2010, 08:32 PM EDT
Could be anywhere in the world. A usual slam at America, and as usual it is wrong. We do, however, understand you pay for an education. It will be paid by the consumer or through taxes. There is no such thing as a free education
akellyny | Oct 21, 2010, 08:04 AM EDT
cathy/marty - watch your mouth. College education in Ireland is FREE - unlike America where you will pay for the rest of your life. Most students work as waitresses to live outside of college but there are no jobs. Perhaps it's time you got an education yourself.
Southernpride | Oct 19, 2010, 07:49 PM EDT
Those studants will turn out to be wonderful liberals. Well worth educating
SeamusMor | Oct 19, 2010, 05:57 PM EDT
If your gonna be a whore, be EXPENSIVE!!!
maloney | Oct 19, 2010, 12:30 PM EDT
Not near as many as liberals. Nor can any respectable liberals be found.
Downunderyan | Oct 19, 2010, 06:31 AM EDT
Shock, horror! This has never happened before? I was a scholarship kid (male) attending university in Ireland in the late 1960's - early 1970's when many students went to work in the USA during the long summer vacation to earn extra money towards their study costs. Some young women who worked in hospitality came back very rich indeed for their 'hospitality'. Working in bars etc, the code for 'turning tricks' was to ask the male customer 'upstairs for your change, sir?' Said income was tax free needless to say and undeclared, as with 'tips'. I wonder how many respectable, successful, conservative seniors have a background in hospitality to thank for their success?
thomas1317 | Oct 19, 2010, 02:58 AM EDT
This isn't limited to Irish students - you can find it at almost every college or university. It is also not a new phenomenon.
killowen | Oct 18, 2010, 11:11 PM EDT
Going into toilet - future leaders of ol erin - prostitutes like the ones there now. current lot placed by their monied masters.
cathy/marty | Oct 18, 2010, 06:20 PM EDT
Why would you even mention something like this. These people are trying to get an education and their are no funds from the government for these people. SHAME on the IRISH.
Searlit | Oct 18, 2010, 03:49 PM EDT
@antoman, Trouble be thy name.
JTravis | Oct 18, 2010, 02:11 PM EDT
Looks like the students are getting screwed one way or another!!!!
ciarrai | Oct 18, 2010, 11:53 AM EDT
Sad, but how many are doing this?
antoman | Oct 18, 2010, 11:43 AM EDT
@Searlit..I imagine there are many positions.
Searlit | Oct 18, 2010, 11:10 AM EDT
Aren't the young male college graduates in the same position?
Ms.Gail | Oct 18, 2010, 10:07 AM EDT
Are there no children to mind, floors to vaccuum,errands to run, dogs to walk, letters to keyboard, elderly to companion? Besides, it sounds as if there is plenty of foriegn competition for the prostitute positions. Don't tell me all the gene pool of hard workers left the island!
Towngate | Oct 18, 2010, 08:39 AM EDT
By the way - on a recent visit to a south Dublin Shopping centre, I was 'approached' by a beautiful (Eastern European - by her accent) girl 'striking poses' directly outside the Bank door, and later by another similar girl who was standing by a Parking Pay Point who offered to help me put my money in the slot! The sting in this tale,sadly,is that the bank was only allowed to give me a fraction of what I wished to withdraw - so the first girl got 'no sale' and they took so long about it that there was a shocking 10 euro parking fee for the few hours I'd parked so it was 'no sale' for the second either! Yeah, sigh, it is very hard to do business in Ireland these days. I might have to go to "Monto"!
Towngate | Oct 18, 2010, 08:18 AM EDT
ON the other-other hand Danny, it could be seen as valuable training for life in the workplace and the marital home!