Teen girls engage in 'paid dating' for spare cash

(Ecns.cn)--While dressed in school uniforms they may appear to be nothing more than naive teenagers, but as soon as they change outfits, some young girls are recklessly becoming the "mates" of strange male adults. They are engaging in what the Japanese call enjo-kōsai, or "compensated dating," a practice where older men give money and/or luxury gifts to attractive women for their companionship and, possibly, for sexual favors.

Enjo-kōsai began spreading to other East Asian nations in the late 1990s and eventually found its way to the Chinese mainland, where it has recently caused nationwide concern over the moral fiber of the country's young women, particularly in urban areas.

Money

The Shanghai police published a case on November 5 involving more than 20 underage female students, the youngest of whom was about 14 years old, all accused of prostituting themselves to make money.

The news revealed that Nana, a girl who had dropped out of school over troubles at home, was the initiator. Starting in 2009, she began to rope in young girls, mainly her classmates, to trade sex with men. Her circle quickly widened and gradually more young ladies joined on their own initiative.

"Many girls are willing to prostitute themselves in order to earn pocket money," said a local official.

"They are not ashamed of sex-for-money deals at all. Some are even from wealthy families, and only sell sex to make money for shopping and entertainment," added Han Konglin, an official from the local Juvenile Procuratorial System.

"We need money for clothes, accessories and fun. However, the spending money from our parents does not cover all the bills. So the idea of making a profit via prostitution sprang into our minds," said Xiaowen, Nana's friend. She added that for girls like her, sex-for-money has already become part of their daily lives.

Money is the main cause of compensated dating, according to a report by the China Social Work Research Center of the China Youth University for Political Sciences.

Vanity

Tong Xiaojun, one of the editors of the report, added that enjo-kōsai is more likely to happen in cities rather than rural areas, where people's material desires are not as strong.

Lisa See, an American writer and novelist, also pointed out in her book Shanghai Girls that local ladies vie with each other intensely for material superiority.

Home to various luxury boutiques, expensive pubs and high-end shopping malls, Shanghai has become famous for the pampered and materialistic lifestyles led by its female inhabitants.

Xixo Yun (alias), 20, told reporters from China Newsweek that she came to Shanghai two months ago and found that "it is a place full of freshness, where she could see numerous things she dared not imagine before."

According to social workers, teenagers as young as 15 advertise themselves as available for "compensated dating." The practice is becoming more acceptable among Hong Kong's teenage girls as well, who do not think compensated dating is a kind of prostitution. Some believe it is different because it does not necessarily involve sexual intercourse and they can choose their clients, who range from teenage boys to married men. Some even believe they are helping others.