 is brought forcefully to a brothel where she is revered for her fair complexion and her virginity making her an 

 in their business. The story also follows 

 of the same brothel, a woman in her 30s who is already in huge demand by Bombay’s rich, respected men and gets invited to offer her services in their big bungalows. Whether a girl is an ingénue and has been forced into prostitution or someone mature who has come to make the most out of this “forbidden work”, a lot of research has only been done on the psyche and conditions of the apparent “sellers”, meanwhile the “buyers” get overlooked when it is largely men who purchase sex whose money makes prostitution generate an annual revenue of $100 billion worldwide.

Buying sex can be expensive and men can face heavy repercussions from social stigma and marital problems to sexually transmitted diseases and legal consequences. So, what kind of men do pay for sex? Overall, an estimated 16 % of men pay for sex in the U.S., according to a 2005 report by social work professor, 

. 14 % of Dutch men have bought sex as compared with nearly 40 % of men in Spain. A study in 

 suggested a humongous 95 % of men have slept with a prostitute. While the common norm is to think of these men as pathological, it is impossible to categorise such a large section of society as 

. Therefore, most of the buyers of sex are sons, husbands, and respectable, contributing members of society.

. (2012) identified the following five reasons for men to buy sex – seeking intimacy, seeking sex without intimacy, seeking variety, thrill-seeking, and pathology. A chunk of these men or “johns” deprived of intimacy from women because of their shyness or general lack of appeal find their quick fix of receiving female warmth and approval by visiting prostitutes, which is also one of the reasons most of them prefer to visit the same women, they have become familiar with over time. It also saves them the time of building an actual meaningful connection with a consensual partner where they are also always at a risk of not always having their physical needs to be accepted. But they can always expect a sex worker to listen to their rants or rub their backs, however unreal it may be, in exchange for payment. 

, a sex worker for more than twenty years, in her Ted talk – What a sex worker can teach us about human connection says “

Just as you’d hire a mental health professional, I’m a sexual health professional. But it’s not about the sex – it’s about intimacy and connection.”

, a clinical psychologist and anti-prostitution activist known for her studies on the effects of prostitution, trafficking, and sexual violence along with 

, a UCLA professor, in their 2015 research on men who buy sex and men who don’t found men who buy sex share certain key characteristics with men who are at risk of committing sexual aggression. 

“We hope this research will lead to the rejection of a myth that sex buyers are simply sexually frustrated nice guys”

, Farley says. A large chunk of these men also partake in this transaction to satisfy their misogynistic tendencies and refer to having sex with prostitutes as 

” or disposing of a coffee cup after they are finished drinking from it. 

“A prostitute’s bed represents the last bastion of antifeminism. Only there can men reestablish the traditional dominance over women.”

Safe to say, a tiny percentage of women who get themselves into this profession are out of will. Trafficking, poverty, drug usage, and fear of violence from pimps are among the innumerable factors that push women into the Sex Trade. Therefore, women are not the real drivers of this business but the men who invest their money, time, and privacy in moving it constantly. A shift from studying the supply to targeting the demand (purchasers of sex) may provide a more nuanced understanding of prostitution and its major contribution to this cycle of exploitation of women.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.

Why Do Men Buy Sex?

, where attendees could indulge in nostalgic activities like playing 

, and even listening to Paris Hilton’s playlist from her heyday. These events, though pricey, aim to evoke the carefree spirit of childhood for millennials and older Gen Z-ers, while offering a fresh experience for the younger crowd.

Capitalizing on nostalgia is nothing new. People have a deep-seated desire to revisit the past, especially in times of crisis like the current climate emergency, the global pandemic, and ongoing political unrest. It’s understandable why a generation already under stress would long for the simpler days of their childhood when their biggest worry was bringing a map to school. Coupled with major corporations struggling to innovate, this leads to a trend of “re-imagining” what was once beloved. We see this in the resurgence of classic TV shows and movies, the revival of fashion trends from decades ago, and a preference for music that harkens back to earlier times.

In today’s fast-paced social media landscape, pop culture trends splinter quickly, making it challenging for Gen Z to find unifying cultural moments. This difficulty drives them to seek solace in simpler times when music, fashion, and humour from popular movies and TV shows like 

 unite an entire generation. This phenomenon is often attributed to the “20-year rule,” a theory suggesting that fashion cycles repeat every two decades. Anything less than a decade old lacks the nostalgic depth, as it’s still too recent for young adults to have a strong connection to. Conversely, cultural elements from over 30 years ago can feel too distant. This explains why young adults are drawn to trends from around 20 years ago—they strike the perfect balance of nostalgia and relevance.

, are currently at the forefront of fashion trends. The era’s iconic styles from the late 90s and early 2000s have made a triumphant return. Originally associated with a computer malfunction, Y2K now symbolizes the essence of that era. Baggy jeans, baby tees, hoop earrings, and flip phones are all back in vogue, and keeping up with these trends has become a marker of being “cool.” This resurgence has created a lucrative market for companies looking to capitalize on nostalgia, whether by reentering the fashion scene, reviving TV shows, or reintroducing past fads with a modern twist. This phenomenon, known as the 

, highlights how nostalgia influences our spending habits.

If you find yourself drawn to spending money on items that evoke memories from your past, you may have succumbed to the nostalgia effect. While money is crucial for meeting our basic needs, a strong social network can also fulfil these needs. Consequently, when we have an abundance of money, the importance of social connections may diminish, and vice versa. After nostalgic memories increase feelings of social connectedness, the nostalgia effect takes hold. At this stage, our desire for money decreases due to our heightened sense of social connectedness, leading us to be more inclined to spend on “retro” fashion, buy that vintage camcorder, or even indulge in watching less-than-stellar sequels.

“We remain trapped in the twentieth century,” theorist Mark Fisher claimed. Amidst our inability to reach traditional milestones like home ownership, stable employment, or marriage, reflecting on simpler times can provide a sense of comfort. While the times we’re living in may certainly be complex, our minds twenty years down the lane may feel otherwise. That’s how nostalgia works.

The Bad Side of the Good Old – On Nostalgia

How frequently do we, as women, find that when we enter our symptoms into Google, the results indicate that they are widespread, affecting a large fraction of the female population, yet the cause is almost always unknown? It doesn’t stop at the diseases associated with women but even the ones affecting both sexes.

In an article titled “Despite Decades of Promises, Health Research Still Overlooks Women,” 

Women are twice as likely as men to die from heart attacks. When a nonsmoker dies of lung cancer, it’s twice as likely to be a woman as a man. And women suffer more than men from Alzheimer’s and autoimmune disease (eg. rheumatoid arthritis)

.” These disparities stem from various factors, including insufficient funding for research on women’s health, the assumption that findings from male-focused research can be extrapolated to women, and latent sexism, all of which hinder progress in understanding the implications of various diseases on women’s bodies.

In the early to mid-20th century, research in the United States was minimally regulated. Between the 1940s and 1970s, drugs like 

 were prescribed to pregnant women to prevent complications, despite the unknown risks to their babies. This led to tragic outcomes, with thousands of babies born with severe limb deformities due to thalidomide. In response, countries worldwide began stricter regulations on medication research, approval, and marketing to protect the public. In the US, these regulations initially excluded most women of reproductive age from early-stage drug research. Subsequently, clinical trials often focused on data primarily from white women. It wasn’t until 1993 that the 

 mandated the inclusion of women and minorities in federally funded clinical research. This legacy stems from decades of women being excluded from clinical trials. Reasons included concerns about pregnancy, menstrual cycles, and the perceived complexity of hormonal influences. Additionally, researchers once believed the debunked notion that women were too occupied with family to participate. Even laboratory mice are mostly 

Women’s bodies operate differently than men’s, with distinct reproductive functions impacting them throughout their lives, including fertility, pregnancy, menopause, and various gynecological disorders and cancers. Despite these obvious differences, certain “gender-neutral” diseases like sleep apnea or heart attacks can be challenging to diagnose in women due to atypical symptoms compared to men. Research from 

 indicates that while 70% of those with chronic pain conditions are women, 80% of pain research focuses on males. Conditions that disproportionately affect one sex, such as depression and headaches, tend to have a higher impact on women. Yet, diseases like migraine, headaches, endometriosis, and anxiety disorders receive disproportionately less funding compared to their impact on the population.


Women comprise half the global population, and their health is equally, if not more, important. Having women researchers in leading roles can improve research into often overlooked areas, as they may better understand the symptoms and experiences involved. Increased funding from both government and private sectors is crucial to support researchers effectively. Additionally, leveraging advanced technologies like artificial intelligence can help bridge the longstanding gender gap in health research by enabling tailored care to meet women’s unique needs.

It is ensuring that clinical trials and research studies include diverse populations, including women of different ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds, designing studies that specifically address women’s health issues and consider gender differences in disease presentation, symptoms, and treatment responses along with raising awareness about the importance of including women in medical research among researchers, healthcare providers, and the general public and also, advocating for policies that mandate the inclusion of women in clinical trials and research studies, as well as policies that support gender equity in research funding and leadership positions. It’s not one person’s job but together, we can work towards ensuring that women are adequately represented in medical research and that their health needs are effectively addressed.

Global Medical Research Has Failed Women

, in one of the most pivotal lines of the grim show had this to say about her son – 

“Is it wrong not to be special? It’s fine if he’s never great. He doesn’t have to be better than anyone. After all, just look at him. He’s so cute. He’s already special. Because he was born into this world.”

 That’s one thing about life – we’re all born equal. How we, as humans, end up becoming greater than the other, is a great tragedy. We do not need to have certain prospects or specific nationality or race to belong to, for us to have greater rights over life itself. We’re already special because we’re born into this world.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. In 

‘s world, two groups of people are fighting over 2,000 years of history, none of them were born to see and endure. They tend to think in very extreme emotions – fear and anger against one another, forming an “

 mentality. They do not take into heed the senseless casualties and mindless killings of innocent people on each side. It is the common population and only the common population, who aleways suffer at the hands of tyranny. They are people whose entire lives are reduced to numbers and ‘collateral damage’ and not living, breathing human beings with family, dreams, hopes and expectations of their lives.

It’s when one starts thinking about matters in black and white that the problem amplifies. In the series, Eren’s half-brother, 

 is quick to accept that everything that underwent in history was the fault of his people, i.e. people born into the 

. According to him, everything would end if the Eldians ended altogether. He may be sympathizing enough to not end his people’s existence at once with the Founding Titan’s powers, but still wants his antinatalism ideals to come into existence by euthanizing all Eldians, which would ultimately lead to their problems to end, once and for all. It is evident through the series that Zeke has had a troubled childhood and like every troubled child, he thinks, 

“All of this must’ve never happened if I didn’t exist at all

.” Except, an end to an entire race of innocent lives and their history is at stake here, due to his projection.

In popular culture, people are more accepting of Eren’s plans which posits that if the world can’t understand them, it’s the world that should, quite literally be removed from the map, not them. And so, he marched on with his newfound powers of hundreds of colossal titans and trampled upon eighty per cent of humanity. Eren may have done it to protect his friends and the people he cared about. He expresses himself to 

Armin: "Why did this happen?"Eren: "I finally understand. It's because I'm an idiot."

Even in the face of being costed their own lives, 

, the commander of the Survey Corps had to say, 

“Genocide is wrong! There is nothing anyone can say to change my mind about that!”

 Instead of thinking in extreme emotions, Hange chooses to be a Stoic and holds on to her virtue by focusing on things she can control, i.e. to stop Eren from what he plans on doing by keeping her emotions of anger for the other group and the rest of the world, aside and doing the greater good.

In one of the most important lines from the show, Reiner shares the last words of the fallen comrade, 

“We haven’t even had a chance to talk this through.”

 He probably got a hint of the differences that existed between him and the trio who were warriors and on the “

In the end, all he wanted was for them to have a simple conversation to work out their differences. Marco’s last words could also be applied to the Subjects of 

 conflict with the rest of the world. While the Eldians’ ancestors were rightfully vilified, the modern Subjects of Ymir were expected to suffer the consequences without even knowing the crime. This culminated in the world’s unilateral decision to go to war with 

 no matter what they said or did in their defence. It might be optimistic, but perhaps if the modern Paradis “devils” were given a chance to plead their case, then Eren would never have had to resort to the Rumbling.

We get to know at the end of the finale that the cycle will never end. Humans continue finding new reasons to be at each other’s throats. This world that we live in demands our attention and to look out for each other. In one of the most poignant scenes of the finale, as the people reach the precipice and fall off it, all of them feel a shared responsibility for a baby wrapped in red cloth and feel an urgency to protect it even in the face of their impending deaths, paying homage to the little red coat girl from Schindler’s List.

Hajime Isaya has given us a story for ages but in a much broader sense, a reflection of the world that we live in. The cycle may indeed never end but it’s completely unfair to not stand in solidarity with the helpless and use our voice for the voiceless. Nobody escapes it but to quote 

Oliver, “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work."

Attack on Titan: End of an Era

The concept of the “pink tax” highlights the phenomenon where products targeted at women often carry higher prices compared to similar products marketed towards men. This pricing disparity, rooted in gender-based discrimination, is coined “pink tax” due to the association with the color pink. Items such as razors, toothbrushes, and even prescription drugs marketed to women frequently incur higher costs, seemingly without any justifiable rationale beyond their association with the color pink.

While men and women routinely buy identical everyday essentials, research indicates that products marketed to women often come with a higher price tag compared to their male-targeted counterparts. Notably, personal care items stand out as industries showcasing significant gender-based price disparities. This includes products such as deodorants, soaps, lotions, and razor blades, which are marketed to both men and women.

The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs conducted a comprehensive study in 2015, titled “From Cradle to Cane,” revealing that goods serving the same purpose for both genders are, on average, priced 7% higher for women. Among nearly 800 products scrutinized across 35 categories, numerous items exhibit gender-based pricing discrepancies.

Children’s items like girls’ clothing and accessories, including helmets, toys like scooters, and bikes, cost 7% and 4% more, respectively, than their boy counterparts. Adult clothing like jeans and button-up shirts, sourced from the same manufacturers as men’s clothing, incur an average of 8% higher costs for women.

In the personal care industry which is marked as the industry with the highest markup for women, personal care products exhibit an average cost difference of 13%. This includes items such as razors, hair care products, deodorants, and body wash. Home health care products like braces, digestive medicine, and compression socks are, on average, 8% more expensive for women. Women also experience higher costs for services like dry cleaning and haircuts, even when presenting the same shirt or requesting a short haircut.

The genesis of this notion lies in society’s elevated expectations regarding women’s appearance and psychological comportment. From childhood, women are ingrained with specific behavioural norms, leading them to allocate more resources toward makeup, personal hygiene, attire, and transportation compared to men. Inequality, both intentional and systemic, contributes to these disparities.

There are many suggested causes of this discrepancy, including price elasticity and the belief that women are more prepared than men to pay higher prices for their purchases. For instance, if the cost of sunglasses rises, men may exhibit greater elasticity by refraining from purchasing new ones and sticking with their existing pair. Conversely, societal expectations often compel women to stay abreast of trends, prompting them to invest in new pairs, reducing elasticity. This underscores the intricate interplay between gender norms and consumer behavior.

A mere 23% of Indians are familiar with the term “pink tax” and its economic implications. In India, instances of the pink tax pervade various sectors, encompassing salon services, personal care essentials like shampoos, soaps, and deodorants, along with clothing, toys, and accessories, including jewelry. India’s standing at 127 out of 146 countries in the recent Global Gender Gap report from the World Economic Forum underscores a sobering reality. While the pink tax subjects women to heightened expenditures, the gender pay gap curtails their earnings. This dual challenge significantly erodes women’s purchasing power, rendering them economically vulnerable. Gender discrimination transcends the social sphere, permeating every facet of society, particularly in the economic realm, thus exacerbating female economic disparities.

It’s therefore important to be mindful of the potential price disparity in products marketed for women. Wise purchasing involves comparison shopping, scrutinizing ingredient lists, and recognizing that packaging may not reflect the true value. Even when two products share a price tag, differences in volume may impact their actual cost. Developing consumer rationality is not just an individual endeavor; it is a collective responsibility for the global female community. Let us resist the allure of pink packaging, fostering a culture of thoughtful consumption and economic empowerment.

Articles by Ayesha Alim

Why Do Men Buy Sex?

The Bad Side of the Good Old – On Nostalgia

Global Medical Research Has Failed Women

Attack on Titan: End of an Era

Why do women have to pay more for stuff?

Why Do Men Buy Sex?

The Bad Side of the Good Old – On Nostalgia

Global Medical Research Has Failed Women

Attack on Titan: End of an Era

Why do women have to pay more for stuff?