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.
