Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli occupation army: A sergeant from the 614th Combat Engineering Battalion was killed in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday.
Israeli media: The government has approved the agreement that includes the release of hostages and Palestinian detainees amid divisions within the ministerial council.
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre: The earthquake hit at a depth of 58 kilometers, warning of potentially hazardous tsunami waves.
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre: A 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes the Mindanao region in the Philippines.
Cuban Foreign Ministry: The clear objective of this escalation is to overthrow the constitutional government of President Nicolás Maduro and install a Washington-aligned authority.
Cuban Foreign Ministry: We warn against the growing escalation by the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Venezuela's request comes in response to the escalation of aggression and the unprecedented US military deployment in the Caribbean.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Venezuelan government has officially requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli artillery shells the northwest of Nuseirat Camp in central Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: The ceasefire has come into effect.

UK women turning to escort work due to cost of living crisis

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 30 Apr 2023 13:17
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

Vulnerable women in the United Kingdom are being forced to engage in what is referred to as "survival sex" as Britain's economic situation is worsening.

  • x
  • UK women turning to escort work due to cost of living crisis
    Motorists drive on a road past a woman working in the escort trade in Bangkok, Thailand. (AFP)

Women are increasingly being compelled to participate in "survival sex" as the cost of living crisis worsens for the UK's most disadvantaged.

Charities worry that escalating prices, combined with years of underfunding, are forcing women, particularly those suffering from trauma and mental illness, to turn to sex in return for accommodation or to satisfy other basic requirements.

According to The Observer, it is especially a problem for migratory women and asylum seekers. The issue is also making it more difficult for people who want to leave violent situations.

According to organization Beyond the Streets, the cost-of-living problem is causing many who are already vulnerable to turn to survival sex to pay bills and rent, resulting in greater exploitation and abuse.

A charity support worker stated that she has spoken to women who are locked in escorting or selling sex, as well as many who are forced to "top up" low-wage employment with sex to make ends meet.

According to a charity spokesperson, "The cost-of-living crisis is a driver [of survival sex], and for those already vulnerable, they face considerable exploitation. There is a lack of government funding to support the needs of women, and charities are struggling as their incomes reduce, expenses increase and they are faced with more demands on their services.”

In recent months, Latin American Women's Aid (LAWA) has encountered many examples of "sex for rent" involving female asylum applicants. In one example, a lady had been couch-surfing for several months when she met a man who claimed to provide her with lodging before sexually abusing her as she slept.

Women experiencing financial abuse

Related News

French court to rule on surgeon who assaulted over 300 patients

Sexual abuse of Gaza detainees in Israeli prisons going rampant

Belén Ruiz, the charity’s violence against women and girls advice centre coordinator, expressed that women in these circumstances are being "doubly victimized and unable to seek redress." 

In some cases, Ruiz stated that this occurs in public law accommodation facilities, which makes the women afraid of accessing such services.

Tilly Smith, from the Generation Rent campaign group stated that the danger is growing as a "particularly bleak" economic situation becomes more apparent. 

Read more: UK's Sunak has electrical grid refitted to accommodate his heated pool

Women's Aid stated that many who contacted them were in "dire and desperate need" and that growing living costs were making it even more difficult for individuals to exit abusive marriages.

"In the difficult economic context that we're in at the moment, we know that women are experiencing increased and exacerbated levels of controlling and financial abuse from perpetrators," said Lucy Hadley, the charity's head of policy. 

Action not addressing root cause of problem

Suella Braverman, the home secretary, stated last week that she was proposing a new rule targeting landlords who exploit vulnerable individuals for sex and issued a request for evidence. It came after a trial of one-time payments to help domestic abuse victims leave abusive relationships was announced last month.

Read more: UK Home Secretary ‘milks’ expenses system to cover household bills

While Hadley called the fund a "good first step," she noted that it fell short of the £1 million goal, and that the action on sex for rent was not addressing the root causes of the problem, which she identified as homelessness, poverty, and inequality.

A spokesperson from the UK's Home Office stated that exploitation through "sex for rent" was already illegal under the Sexual Offences Act and that the government had launched a call for evidence that would help end the harmful trend.

“We are committed to stopping all forms of violence and intimidation against women and girls, including domestic abuse. While we directly fund charities to help victims leave abusive relationships, we also will invest over £230m more widely through our Tackling Domestic Abuse plan," the spokesperson said.

  • Sexual abuse
  • UK inflation
  • United Kingdom
  • London
  • Britain
  • cost of living
  • economic crisis

Most Read

A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025
President Donald Trump walks from Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump sets record-low refugee cap in new immigration policy shift

  • Politics
  • 4 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Trump to bar Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on US routes
Politics

Trump to bar Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on US routes

China to impose port fees on US vessels, responding to US tariffs.
Economy

China to impose port fees on US vessels, responding to US tariffs

US-backed Machado wins Nobel as tensions escalate in Caribbean
Politics

US-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize

Workers are seen at the venue prepared for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, Indonesia, on October 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Sports

Indonesia bars Israeli athletes from Jakarta gymnastics event

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS