Week 1 of Talk Up Yout probes transactional sex

Toni-Shae Panton

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

LAST Tuesday, the second season of Talk Up Yout started with the heavy topic — transactional sex. Although, we have an inkling that it occurs quite frequently, the show brought the practice to the fore.

It was highlighted that transactional sex is a growing trend in the Jamaican society. However, not only females are taking part in this activity, men are also participants.

A young man, called Kevin spoke about his life experiences and his various encounters with homosexuals. He recounted that he was sexually assaulted by his uncle at age 13 and when he spoke out, was rejected and beaten by his own family members.

This drove him to the streets, which opened his eyes to the world of prostitution as a way to earn money. Being threatened with a gun aside, Kevin earned enough money to settle in Portland and resisted the temptation to return to the oldest profession in the world.

On the show, sociologist Dr Tammy Haynes-Robinson stated that many persons are now taking part in transactional sex with their mothers pushing them to take part in this activity. Paedophilia, (when adults take part in sexual activities with children), she explained is a mental illness, which many of these persons are suffering, is and also a crime. The traumatic effects follow the victims through life.

Talk Up Yout, a series produced by Nadia Stanley and hosted by Emprezz Mullings, who also wears the hat of executive producer and creator, focuses on the struggles that the youths of the country facing. The show serves to educate the youth and the rest of Jamaica on what is happening with the country's youth and how they are improving their lives.

The show is aired Tuesdays at 6:00 pm and Wednesdays at 11:00 pm on Television Jamaica.

What did you think of the first show?

Send your reactions to lifestyle.TEENage@gmail.com or reply on Twitter/TEENageObserver #TUY. And be sure to tune in tonight for another topic that will Shatter the silence in Jamaica.