Sugar dating , also called sugaring , [ 1 ] is a quasiromantic or pseudoromantic relationship wherein a financially successful person dates a less financially successful person. Typically, the financially successful person is older and wealthy, while the other person is typically younger, attractive , and interested in improving their quality of life. The gift recipient is called a sugar baby , and male sugar babies are referred to as gigolos.
The providing partner is called a sugar daddy or sugar mommy. The phenomenon of powerful men using their money to attract women is old. At the end of the 19th century in the United States, in a phenomenon known as treating , women with low-paying jobs relied upon men to provide them with money in exchange for being an escort.
With the rising costs in tuition , cuts to scholarships and bursaries , and the increasing pressures of student debt , sugar dating has become prevalent among students. Attitudes towards sugar relationships are shaped by economic conditions, societal norms , psychological traits, and cultural values. Research has found openness to these arrangements is related to traditional gender roles , sociosexual orientation , parasite-stress theory , economic inequality , individualism , and personality traits like the Dark Triad.
There is debate about whether this practice can be considered sex work ; i. In Malaysia , sugar dating is illegal, [ 16 ] to the point where the CEO of Malaysian sugar dating company Sugarbook was arrested [ 17 ] and their website blocked by Malaysian Internet service providers. Sugaring has been called the modern-day counterpart of the courtesan , [ 19 ] [ 20 ] "a prostitute, especially one with wealthy or upper-class clients. Contents move to sidebar hide.
Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikidata item. Person in romantic relationship for financial benefits. Several terms redirect here. Prevalence [ edit ]. Legality and comparison to sex work [ edit ].
