... in response to Not exactly prostitution, posted by John K on Jun 17, 2003I did not mean to imply that prostitution was a socially accepted condition in Russia.
The "sponsor" or "sugar daddy" phenomona I believe has existed as long as society and class distinctions have existed throughout the world. Those men who can afford them have kept or employed mistresses, escorts, concubines, or in some cultures multiple wives as long as societies have had income inequality. Most accepted descriptions suggest that the women in these roles have some choice and depending upon the society some social acceptance. I seem to recall the appearance and acceptance by the widow of the mistress of a recent French President at his funeral. The distinction between these categories and prostitutes may be fine but it exists.
The poor girls in the Saratov region as described in the Pravda article I referred to, were lured into sexual servitude and imprisoned by pimps. They had little choice and were abused. The article gave the impression though that the desparate economic conditions in Saratov were also driving young girls into voluntary prostitution.
I remain curious as to whether or not any MOB agencies have featured ladies from this depressed region.
