TheSugarBook: ‘Beneficial arrangement’ not a solution, but symptom of a broken society
Photo: Internet screengrab
I refer to the letter, “‘Sugar daddy’ affairs are private, consensual, do not need ‘moral policing’” (Feb 7).
Government intervention may not always be necessary or desirable in every situation. However, I think that it is imperative in this case for three reasons.
First, the target of TheSugarBook’s money-for-love mobile application is young women. Due to the blatant power imbalance inherent in TheSugarBook’s business model, young women who use it may suffer significant physical and emotional harm. For example, a younger, less financially secure woman might be more easily pressured by an older and wealthier man into doing something she feels uncomfortable with, as the burgeoning #metoo movement on sexual harassment and assault has demonstrated.
The Government should step in and shut the door on this form of economic coercion and the systemic abuse of privilege in our society that is increasingly divided along class lines.
Second, the mere act of consent is insufficient without taking into account the broad range of issues that influence and lead to this “consent”.
For example, bribery and incest are illegal even though two adult parties may “consent” to such an arrangement. Similarly, adultery, which was incidentally promoted by the infamous website Ashley Madison, may be consensual but it always has its repercussions.
Third, the argument that a woman “has no autonomy to act as she desires” falls short when it disregards poverty and other social ills. It has been suggested that a benefit of this service is that women can obtain financial gains in exchange.
The truth is that this “beneficial arrangement” is not a solution, but rather a symptom of a broken society.
Contrary to what the writer argues, the ubiquity of such transactional relationships in “wealthier” societies does not give it any legitimacy whatsoever. Abusive and dysfunctional relationships may be ubiquitous, but this does not mean such behaviour should be facilitated or condoned.
In essence, TheSugarBook serves no purpose except to perpetuate a vicious circle of inequality that prevents any real or meaningful economic progress for the vulnerable. It is hard to imagine any useful skill that would be gained from such a purely economic transaction.
Instead of allowing the platform to operate and accentuate the effects of a widening social and income inequality, we should empower women who are debt-distressed or in dire financial straits with other means to advance themselves.
As we work towards becoming a more gracious and compassionate society, the type of relationships that we should seek to cultivate should not be transactional in nature but rather based on genuine and authentic connections.
