Female students turn to prostitution to pay fees

Research by Kingston University in southwest London suggests that there has been a 50% rise in numbers over the past six years.

In a survey that asked 130 students whether they knew any friends involved in the sex industry, one in 10 said they knew of students who had stripped, lapdanced or worked at massage parlours and escort agencies to support themselves. Just over 6% said they knew students who worked as prostitutes.

The academics found that alcohol and mental problems led some women into stripping and lapdancing. But those resorting to prostitution were simply working to earn money.

University tuition fees, first introduced in 1998 at £1,000 a year, have risen to £3,000 this year at all but a few universities. The average student loan at graduation last year was £8,948, but NatWest Bank said that once private debt was factored in, students now in their first year could expect to graduate with liabilities of more than £14,700.

Dr Ron Roberts, a health psychologist who was the lead author of the study, said: “Our figures represent a 50% increase in the prevalence rates for student prostitution since 2000 . . . given the increasing financial problems experienced by students, this is in line with what we would predict.”

The researchers talked to students in different age and social groups and cross-checked descriptions to avoid double-counting sex workers who might be known by more than one respondent.

Roberts and his co-authors, Sandra Bergstrom and David La Rooy, called on education and welfare authorities to acknowledge the problem of increased costs forcing students into sex work.

According to a 2004 study, clients spend an estimated £534m a year on prostitutes — almost as much as Britons spend on going to the movies. The average cost per encounter was £55, more in London.

Last week one London escort said she had been working in the industry since 1999 to support herself through a masters degree and now a doctorate in international politics.

“In the agency lounge, we all had our books or our laptops,” said the escort, who would be identified only as Sophie. “We were all studying at night, then would take breaks to go out with the guys.”

Sophie said she could sometimes earn £2,000 for a full night’s work in 1999, but now competition from eastern European prostitutes had driven earnings down, while tuition fees had gone up.

Rally In Costa Rica To Support Women's Right To Dress As They Choose

Hundreds of women have rallied outside San Jose's Metropolitan cathedral on Sunday in Costa Rica's first "SlutWalk".

They gathered in the Costa Rican capital to protest against a call by Bishop Jose Francisco Ulloa for women to stop imitating men and to dress modestly.

Protesters, mostly women but some men too, started gathering at the square during the dominical mass and later walked around downtown.

Brandishing banners and signs with slogans against the church, sexism and in favour of women rights, they awaited for the end of the mass to start what they called the "SlutWalk".

Participants in the demonstration were dressed in a variety of clothing, from boots with fishnet stockings, to concealing black burqas.

One half naked woman draped herself in chains and lay on steps in the city in protest at Ulloa's comments.

Sara Fishel, one of the protesters, said she had seen a very diverse range of people at the protest.

"I'm very happy to see so many women here, little girls, I see elderly women too, even men, so yes, I'm very happy to see how the Costa Rican people are supporting their women," she said.

The Bishop of Cartago, Jose Francisco Ulloa, had called on Costa Rican women to dress "with modesty and decency" to avoid being raped.

A Mexican bishop visiting Costa Rica at the time Ulloa made those comments added more fuel to the fire, saying that women should not imitate men, referring to their attitudes and behaviours.

"SlutWalks" started in Toronto, Canada, after a police officer made remarks that women could avoid being raped or victimised by not dressing like "sluts".

Women around the globe rallied against his comments and marches took place in countries around the world, to demonstrate against the idea that a woman's appearance could explain or excuse rape and sexual harassment.

Points Mentioned By Prime Minister Manmohan Singh In His Speech On 64th Independence Day Of India

New Delhi, Aug 15 (IANS) Highlights of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Independence Day speech:

* Without understanding and restraint, our security and integrity can get adversely affected.

* Some people who want to create disturbances in the country so that our progress gets stalled.

* This is the time 'to rise above our personal or political interests and build consensus on issues of national importance'.

* We have provided political stability and socio and economic progress.

* We have established an environment of communal harmony in the country.

* His seven years have seen rapid economic development.

* We have taken special care of the needs of our brothers and sisters from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, minorities, women and children.

* Promises food security legislation soon.

* The country is full of 'confidence and self-respect'.

* Corruption is a big obstacle in national transformation.

* Corruption should be discussed in a manner that 'should not create an atmosphere in which country's progress comes into question'.

* The government is taking strictest possible action in cases of corruption.

* There is no single big step which we can take to eradicate corruption.

* Corruption cannot be eradicated unless 'we improve our justice delivery system'.

* Want strong Lokpal to prevent corruption in high places.

* Hunger strikes and fast-unto-death will not help.

* Nothing should be done to dilute independence of the judiciary.

* Acknowledges 'misuse of governmental discretion in allocation of scarce resources'.

* Government taking steps to reduce corruption in government projects.

* Government will lay down principles and practices with regard to government purchases.

* No government has a 'magic wand' to eradicate corruption.

* We have to fight against corruption on many fronts.

* Compliments farmers on producing a record level food grains.

* We need a second Green Revolution.

* Acknowledges 'a phase of sustained high inflation'.

* Our government fully understands its responsibility to control rise in prices.

* International markets fuel inflation in India.

* Finding a solution to inflation will be our top most priority in the coming months.

* Land acquisition must be transparent and fair.

* Government will establish a new Education Commission to suggest improvements in education at all levels.

* 12th Five Year Plan should focus on health.

* Investment in infrastructure has grown more than one-and-a-half times in the last seven years.

* 'We want to make India slum-free...We want the slum dwellers to get ownership of clean houses.'

* 'Malnutrition in women and children is a matter of concern for all of us.'

* Declining sex ratio 'a matter of deep regret...essential to change the approach with which our society views girls and women'.

* Should not lower guard against terrorism; it is a long battle to be fought jointly by the central government, state governments and citizens.

* Will eradicate the very reasons which gave rise to Naxalism.

* Warns against climate change and promises 'an environmental assessment and monitoring authority to streamline the process of environmental clearances'.

* Acknowledges the younger generation's higher aspirations; institutions should tap our people's potential.

* 'Our entrepreneurs and businessmen should not feel constrained in their activities.'

* 'We should all stay away from tactics that create suspicion or apprehension among those connected with industry, business and investment.'

* Development should not increase inequalities.

* We have the collective capacities and the confidence to deal with tensions and conflicts in society.

'No Food, No Clothes, No Shelter'--After 64 Years Of Independent India...