ABSTRACT
The old fascination with prostitutes as purveyors of “sex without responsibility”1 neglects the reality that some prostitutes are also purveyors of intimacy without responsibility. The most recent explorations of sex work recognize the demand for the latter, which has been marketed as “the girlfriend experience” (GFE). Ads for escorts in print media and online now routinely feature offers of GFE, and it has become a standard feature on the “menus” of brothels worldwide. For example, one Internet ad offers “a true girlfriend experience without the headache,” and another reads, “It’s less of a business transaction and more like a date with the woman of your dreams!”2
Recent research highlights the emotional nourishment that is provided in the GFE.3 A closer look at the actual content of prostitute-client interactions should yield a broader understanding of prostitutes’ occupational requirements, as well as highlight some clients’ motives that are rarely recognized.
