Single Mothers Are Turning to Online Prostitution

With the extremely high cost of decent childcare in this country and the ongoing problem of women being unable to collect child support regularly, more and more single mothers are turning to prostitution in order to pay their bills and support themselves and their children. The internet has opened up new possibilities regarding prostitution, and gone are the days when women stood on street corners trying to earn a living. Classified ads and online personal sites are making it possible for both women and men to make arrangements to exchange money for sexual services.

One such woman discovered the solution to her financial problems on Yahoo Personals. "My ex-husband was not paying child support for our four-year-old son, and I was getting desperate for money," says Holly, 25. "I placed an ad on Yahoo looking for a sugar-daddy type of relationship and met a decent guy that was willing to help me out."

Holly still sees this man, Greg, once a week and they have been meeting in local hotels for more than six months. She says they have become friends during this time, and the money he gives her as a "gift" in exchange for sex helps to supplement the low wages she makes working for a car dealership. She also states that she does not feel that the arrangement she has made with Greg should be classified as prostitution.

"After the first couple of meetings, the awkwardness went away. I don't think I could start another relationship of this sort with someone else though."

Monica, from Orlando, has turned these exchanges into a full-time job. She was working more than full time hours in order to support herself and her 20-month-old son, but bringing home only about 50 dollars a week after daycare, gas, and taxes. She now regularly "sees" four men, needs a babysitter for her son only 10-12 hours a week, and brings home close to 600 dollars every week.