Well this is a major downer. More female students at Cambridge University signed up to "sugar daddy dating" than at any other British university last year. In 2012, 168 Cambridge students joined SeekingArrangement.com, the controversial U.S.-based Internet-dating website that pairs attractive young "sugar babies" with wealthy, usually older men.
SeekingArrangement.com is used by male business execs who on an average rake in an income of £170,000 per year, Women (and men) are encouraged to sign up to exchange their time and affection for five-star dates, shopping trips, and, in some instances, regular cash allowances. The website targets university students by offering a free premium membership to users with a university email address, and it has also reported a 58% jump in university students enrolling in 2012, according to the Telegraph .
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Sugar babies signing up to the site are asked how much they expect from their sugar daddy (or mommy), with the option to request a desired income reaching up to more than £12,000 a month. Yep, A MONTH. According to the site, this amount represents "money that may be given to you in the form of an allowance to help with bills or tuition, or any other forms of pampering such as gifts, travel, or meals."
Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and the fourth-oldest surviving university in the world (yeah, we know how to use Wikipedia). The university is consistently held up as one of the best academic institutions in the world. And yet, quite a few of its highly intelligent female students seem to think their best shot at success lies in an older male benefactor.
Of course, the recent rise in tuition fees can be blamed, in part. “College should be an opportunity to expand the mind and experience new things," CEO and founder of SeekingArrangement.com Brandon Wade told the Telegraph . "Unfortunately, because of the of recent tuition hikes, the college experience has become greatly unbalanced.” He added: “While some may argue that these women are just using men for their own personal gain, I believe that they are proactive in pursuing a higher education.”
What's your take? Is this concept highly creepy and depressing for womankind? Or is this simply an inevitable response to the increased cost of getting a decent education? We really want to know what you think...