Paper details
| Paper authors | Islam Al Khatib, Marion Bouchetel, Thanasis Tyrovolas, Shirin Heidari |
| In panel on | Coping strategies of affected people in a resource-constrained environment |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
Transactional sex (TS) is frequently reported among forcibly displaced populations, yet remains poorly understood and often mischaracterised. Prior research highlights the influence of structural, legal, and gender-based vulnerabilities in shaping TS, leading to significant sexual and reproductive health implications. However, existing studies often conflate TS with sex work, sexual exploitation, or trafficking, and predominantly focus on cisgender women—neglecting men and refugees with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions (SOGIESC). This study presents the first comprehensive, multi-country exploration of TS, examining its patterns, forms, and prevalence across diverse refugee groups.
We conducted 193 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye, Greece, and Switzerland, including cisgender heterosexual men and women as well as individuals of diverse SOGIESC. Guided by a broad working definition of TS—any sexual exchange for material or non-material benefit—we used content analysis to identify frequencies and patterns of TS experiences and observations. A secondary inductive coding framework delineated four distinct TS typologies. The coding scheme achieved an inter-rater reliability Kappa score of 0.88.
Sixty-five percent of participants had personally experienced or observed TS, with prevalence highest among SOGIESC refugees (80). Four typologies emerged: (1) sex work, (2) transactional sexual encounters, (3) intimate transactional relationships, and (4) temporary or convenience marriages. Structural drivers included financial insecurity, housing precarity, legal liminality, and aspirations for onward movement or settlement in a safe destination. Refugees with diverse SOGIESC faced additional discrimination and social exclusion, further contributing to engagement in TS. TS was frequently associated with heightened risks of coercion, exploitation, and violence, resulting in adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes and psychological distress.
Transactional sex is a prevalent adaptive strategy among diverse refugee populations, yet it remains stigmatised and misinterpreted. Effective policy and humanitarian responses must move beyond moralistic frameworks, address the structural roots of gendered vulnerability, and offer gender-responsive, rights-based support. Recognising the varied realities of TS is essential for developing inclusive, dignified, and effective interventions that mitigate associated health and protection risks.
