Why Sugar-Daddy Relationships Are on the Rise

Are sugar babies sex workers or girlfriends? They appear to walk a fine line between the two.

A “sugar baby” is someone who receives “gifts” (including cash) in exchange for company – which may or may not involve sex. A “sugar daddy,” or someone who gives such “gifts,” is usually wealthier and older than a sugar baby. “Sugar mommas” are less common, most likely because women are less willing to pay for sex. Sugaring is also prevalent among homosexuals. I’ll concentrate on the most prevalent relationship between sugar babies and sugar daddies here.

Some sugar daddies offer “allowances,” or a set sum each week or month, while others pay by the date. Sometimes there is no specific agreement, and the sugar baby is left to the whims of the sugar daddy’s generosity. Some sugar daddies prefer to meet numerous times every week, while others prefer to meet once a month. Sugaring can range from hand-holding and cuddling to a complete sexual experience, but sugar daddies typically want both affection and sex. Those who like companionship tend to give their sugar babies monthly assistance, while those who prefer sex choose to give them cash on a date-by-date basis.

SeekingArrangement, a premier site for sugaring arrangements, indicates that the average sugar daddy is 38 years old and earns $250,000 annually, while the average sugar baby is 25 years old and receives $2,800 monthly from their daddies. Sugaring has become increasingly popular in the past few decades, especially among students. There are many sites for this purpose, which are used by millions of people.

Although sex is indeed common in sugaring, not all sugar daddies seek such intimate relations. Similarly, although most sugar babies engage in sugaring in order to meet their expenses, some are hoping for a serious relationship—yet, in many cases, the sugar daddy is married. Self-esteem can be a tricky issue for both sugar babies and daddies. A sugar daddy does not want to feel like he is a john and a sugar baby does not want to feel like she is a prostitute. Accordingly, sugaring aims for mutual respect between the partners. This is reflected in the sugaring terminology of “partner” rather than “worker” and “client”—although sugar babies are clearly the weaker partner. Indeed, while people speak about “ordering,” or “going to,” a prostitute, they speak about “meeting” or “dating” a sugar baby.