Increasing number of Chinese college students turn to
prostitution
A recent investigation into an Internet-based prostitution ring by
police from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, discovered that a
significant number of the prostitutes are female college
students.
According to Xinhua News Agency, illegal pornographic operations in
China are increasingly targeting college campuses. Qian, the leader
of the Internet-based prostitution ring in Hangzhou, made huge
profits from introducing female college students to wealthy
"clients".
Internet-based sex deals provide anonymity for clients. Qian posted
photos of female students on a website and made their contact
details available with one click on the photos.
Qian charges Internet users about 1,000 yuan (~$120) for each
"transaction," as well as the 300 yuan (~35) "introduction fee"
that he charges the students.
Mr. Ma Xiaoming, a former reporter with Shaanxi Provincial
Television, said the students have different reasons for turning to
prostitution. Some of them come from low-income families, and some
have a distorted concept of money and low morality.
Ma said, "There are many factors involved. The primary one is moral
degeneration and the degeneration of morale on campus. In society,
people just want money. As long as they have money and fame, as
long as they have the material things they chase after, they don't
care how they get them.
"Some say that the Chinese people today believe in nothing. I say
that's not true, because they do believe in money. They will do
anything to get money and better living conditions. Some of them
are really hard up. There are people in this category, too."
Dr. William Lan from the Texas Technology University College of
Education said that it was really heart-wrenching for Chinese
scholars abroad to learn that some Chinese female university
students have become prostitutes.
"I learnt about this situation through the internet," said Lan. "I
hope this is not common. The reasons behind this are quite
complicated, and some of the students could be driven by
poverty.
"But I feel the most dangerous thing in China is that people look
down on poverty but not prostitution. To them there's nothing wrong
with becoming a prostitute, but people may laugh at you if you are
poor. Such a trend is really worrying."
Regarding the subject of prostitution involving female college
students, Profession Hu Xingdou from Beijing Institute of
Technology said, "Of course students from some schools sell their
bodies in hotels. This may have something to do with financial
difficulties in their families, or the individual's desire to spend
money to dress up, so she needs money. It is true that the trends
in society have an influence on them. But I think our students,
including both men and women, should respect themselves and make
money through upright channels. They should have the right
perspective regarding money and should not seek that little bit of
economic interest unscrupulously. I think the students should have
this mentality."
Mr. Liu, a physiatrist at a university in Beijing, said, "Indeed
there are such [prostitutes] among college students in China. Some
of them may be from remote areas in China, and their families may
have difficulty supporting their tuition and living expenses. Some
of these students may make this choice. This is normal. However, in
the end, the price they pay is huge."
Ms. Song Meiya, senior editor of the Beijing-based Chinese Women's
Press, said, "Of course there are all kinds of degenerate trends in
society, which have contributed to many female college students
[becoming prostitutes]. For example, they have to dress in a
certain way. During job interviews there are so many requirements
on them. There are more and more requirements and pressure on women
nowadays.
"What can they do to deal with the pressure? They are giving up a
lot, including their bodies. So I think when women are giving their
bodies away, it is also a sign of society's choice."
Reports in recent years say that many wealthy men are looking to
college campuses to buy pleasure. They believe that female students
are well educated, "safe and clean," and look good when they go out
together. Some even pay for college students to be their long-term
mistresses. Song said, "Men use their power and money to purchase
sex as a material thing.They treat women as merchandise."
She asked who is more responsible for the situation: the
prostitutes, or those who buy their services.