The Cash Gift: A Gift or A Deposit for Sex?

A few days back, I was riding with Nkeiru and Elsie and we were tossing ideas for topics on our show, TNR (you can read more about it here). Nkeiru brought up the gist of a girl who had been talking regularly with a guy and then she and the guy went out a couple of times and one time, he gave her money and she was very excited. A short while after, the girl told her friends that the guy had started demanding sex from her and she was confused because she didn't see him as anything more than a friend. One of her friends told her that as long as she had taken his money, she had to sleep with him.

Elsie, Nkeiru and I went on to mull over the matter. We had several conversation points (and no, I won't share them all here so that you will have something to listen to when this topic airs on the show...lol). Nk was of the opinion that girls who go around taking money from men and pretending like they do not know that the men are 'paying' them for sex are liars and were practicing a form of prostitution. I was of the opinion that people (regardless of gender) give gifts to one another. Because I have been in situations were I assumed I was being hit on, when as a matter of fact, the people were only being friendly because they thought I would be cool to hang with, I have, over time, learned to not be quick to conclude on my assumptions. If I get a gift from a person, I tend to let you know that I consider it a gift and that you should not expect anything in return...not even a gift. 

However, I think that that the rules are different when a man has clearly stated that he is only associating with you because he wants to sleep with you or date you. In that case, you either tell him in very clear words that this gift or cash does not mean you guys are in a relationship or that he can sleep with you or you refuse the gift.

But these are simply my thoughts...I am a sucker for gifts, so maybe I am a bit bias. I also like my self respect, so I try to be careful who I take from. However, I have learnt recently, how to let people, especially men, take charge of their responsibility and that includes something as small as paying for my cab and meal if you invite me out.

What are your thoughts though?