ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to challenge the gendering and stereotyping of sex industry clients by presenting empirical evidence of women buying sex in Australia. It defines the use of the term 'buying sex' and presents findings of the types of sex interviewees bought. The chapter also presents findings from the in-depth analysis of interviews, in particular the motivations and barriers to buying sex that were experienced by the women. It is based on a research project undertaken at UNSW Sydney with the experiential experts, women who buy sex. The chapter explores the relationship between motivations for buying sex and stigma and it compares the responses to questions about the stigma of women who framed their sexual service experiences as therapy and of women who framed their sexual services as entertainment and fun. All genders buy sex from all genders for a variety of services and debate about them should not be reduced to a singular view of immorality or entitlement.
