Transactional sex refers to sexual relationships where the giving and/or receiving of gifts, money or other services is an important factor. The participants do not necessarily frame themselves in terms of prostitutes/clients, but often as girlfriends/boyfriends, or sugar babies/sugar daddies/mamas.[1][2] Those offering sex may or may not feel affection for their partners.
Transactional sex is a supersetofsex work, in that the exchange of monetary reward for sex includes a broader set of (usually non-marital) obligations that do not necessarily involve a predetermined payment or gift, but where there is a definite motivation to benefit materially from the sexual exchange.[3]
Alcohol has been used as a currency for transactional sex in South Africa and Uganda.[4][5][6]
