Transactional sex among female university students: A case study of University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Abstract

The study uses a qualitative, narrative inquiry approach to understand the motivation for engaging in transactional sex and the challenges faced in such relationships. The target population of the study is female students registered at the University of the Western Cape. Snowball sampling was used to recruit 12 participants. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. This study concludes that participating female students at the University of the Western Cape are motivated to engage in transactional sex due to socio-economic status, peer pressure, social norms, and the appeal of a lavish lifestyle. Lack of agency, submission, gender-based violence, and health-related problems were seen as the challenges faced by the female students in such relationships.