Sick! Festival: Sexual Transactions

There is an argument that says sexual intercourse is only acceptable if both participants share the same motivation, a motivation which is at least sexual and preferably emotional too. The argument is an important one, challenging all kind of abusive and coercive behaviour.

But there are other types of consenting transactions, where it is not just hearts and bodies that are on offer. Whilst sex work is probably the most commonly discussed form of transactional sex, the lines between the personal and the economic are often less clearly defined. At a time when sexual abuse so frequently goes unpunished, why does consenting, transactional sex between adults still have the power to provoke such hostility?

Debate is chaired by Prof. Bobbie Farsides. Panel features Jo-Anne Welsh, Dr. Mwenza Blell, Ellis Suzanna Slack, a sex worker (Open University) and Dr. Tanya Palmer