Understanding Male Sex Work

Central Journal of Substance Abuse & Alcoholism Bringing Excellence in Open Access Research Article *Corresponding author Hoang My Nguyen, Department of Applied Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong, China, Email: Understanding Male Sex Work: [email protected] Submitted: 14 February 2017 Accepted: 02 March 2017 A Literature Review Published: 10 March 2017 Hoang My Nguyen* Copyright © 2017 Nguyen Department of Applied Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong, China OPEN ACCESS Abstract Keywords Though male sex work is a global phenomenon, systematic reviews on this topic • Male sex work are scant. Our understanding of scholars’ perspectives on this topic remains unclear. • Social work The article reviews past and recent social science research on male sex work. First, this • Perspectives article provides a brief history of male sex workers and their society, demonstrating • Technology that their relationships have varied through times ranging from tolerable to contentious. Secondly, scholars’ perspectives on male sex work and discussion on how these discourses shape the conceptualization of male sex work are provided. Thirdly, this review provides dominant legal and social responses to this topic. Lastly, this article discusses on how emerging technologies shape and influence new conditions to understand on this topic. INTRODUCTION in informing and guiding the development of evidence-based services and practices. Male sex work (MSW) is a globalized phenomenon, existing in almost all countries and expanding rigorously into the digital This literature review investigates the phenomenon of MSW world. In the United States, male sex workers are noted to in the current research literature, varying from public health solicit sex on the streets of Sans Francisco [1]. In Peru, male sex to sociology to criminology research. This paper is intended to workers of different classes venture into urban and suburban enrich our understanding of contemporary perspectives towards spaces to solicit sex [2]. In Mainland China, male sex workers MSW. This review is structured as follows. First, the review aims or “money boys” enter the business to escape the harsh factory labor conditions [3]. In Europe, male sex workers in Prague are research. Second, it aims to critically review various perspectives confronted with the harsh and unrealistic depiction of their lives onto illustrateMSW in aresearch. brief history Third, of MSWthis paper and its aims dynamic to present definitions a brief in in tabloids and news media [4]. Digitally, male sex work or male- summary of relevant theories invoked to understand different to-male pornography accounts for more than one-third of the pathways to become a male sex worker. Fourth, this article $2.5 billion adult industry [5]. In short [6], summarized three connects the relationship between legal and social responses to important aspects of the current state of male sex work: male the perception of MSW. And lastly, this review discusses emerging sex work is global phenomenon, existing in all countries; there is a strong and increasing demand for male sex work in various Defining male sex work areas of the world; and the existence and the conditions of male technology and its influence on the conditions of this topic. masculinity. While there are numerous research and systematic reviewssex work conducted changes withon male and sexinfluence work inthe other traditional disciplines notion such of andThe attitudes great challengetowards thisof defining social malephenomenon. sex work According is that there to is no one agreed-upon definition, due to changing understandingprostitution scant research and systematic reviews have been conducted on [7] as “the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity maleas public sex workhealth in and social criminology, work. Consequently, this review our finds understanding that there is withcommon someone understanding, for payment” Oxford and Dictionary“the unworthy defines or corrupt use of scholars’ perspectives on this topic remains unclear. prostitute [8] is “a person, in particular a woman, who engages The purpose of this review is to offer social work researchers inof sexualone’s talentsactivity for for personalpayment” or [7]. financial In layman gain” terms, and prostitutionwhereas, a and practitioners a general understanding of the topic. Just as the roles of public health agents, it is well accepted within the social Additionally, a prostitute [8] assumes a prototype of a woman, conveying[7] is defined that inwomen a negative are the way, sole purveyorswhere talents of sexual are misused. services and advocate for vulnerable populations. As social workers are [9]. Yet, men in history have engaged in the selling of their becomingwork field increasingly that the roles involved of social in providing workers essentialare to provide services care to bodies just as women [9,10]. Recently, scholars have attempted male sex workers, review on male sex work in research is critical to remove negative connotation associated with the selling of Cite this article: Nguyen HM (2017) Understanding Male Sex Work: A Literature Review. J Subst Abuse Alcohol 5(1): 1054. Nguyen (2017) Email: Central Bringing Excellence in Open Access sex workers moved from public spaces to become hidden within based judgment. Scholars have used “sex work” in replacement bathhouses in the Middle Ages [9]. ofsex “ prostitutionand tried to” [7].reframe The sectionthe definition below withoutattempts placing to capture value- a system. Between top-caste males, a similar system of pederasty In Japan, same-sex relationships were classified by the caste- portion of the process of defining male sex work in research. as followed by the Grecians and the Romans existed [10]. Younger males engaged in sexual relationships with older males Steering away from the value-based definition of in exchange for apprenticeships, such as relationships between physical“prostitution” contact and sexual heading services towards for monetary a more gain”neutral However, definition, it is samurai warriors and their apprentices [10]. Distinctively, noted[11] define that compensation male sex work for sex as services“the adult is not exchange always monetary,of direct however, sexual relationships between samurai warriors and but there are alternative ways of compensating male sex workers. their apprentices’ goal were to achieve ikiji or “shared masculine Beyond the monetary compensation, scholars have attempted pride” [10]. On other hands in less desirable relationships, kabuki wakashu or male actors/prostitutes of lower caste were also livelihood necessities (i.e. food, shelter, etc.) [12], and other items available to offer transactional sex to top-caste samurai warriors, ofto monetaryadd other valuesdimensions (i.e. drugs, to the clothes, definition cosmetics, such as: luxury support goods, of without regards to achieve ikiji [10]. In early modern Japan, overseas vacation, drugs, etc [5]. Additionally, to distinguish same-sex relationships and sex work were legal [10]. In pre-industrial Europe, male sex work continued to exist, as marriage [13], the dimension of “hired” service or employment MSW from other forms of sexual relationships with benefits such although stigmatized, feared and punished [10]. In Italy, young unemployed men or bardassass old their bodies for sex and as dimensional forms of compensation in male sex work industry, is added to the definition. Taking into considerations of multi- art objects for artists [10]. In Paris in the 1700s, sodomy and prostitution were illegal and punishable by imprisonment [10]. to provide sexual services with monetary compensation and/or Despite punitive laws established against prostitution, by the 18th otherscholars valuable [14,15], items. define Morrison male sex and worker Whitehead as a person [16], who argue is hired that century, male sex work was established all over European cities [10]. that sex work is a legitimate form of employment, without the this definition is most fitting to define MSW because it assumes In colonial America, the earliest citation of male sex work was between men who exchanged sexual services for food. John elements moral degradation. The dynamic definition of “male Smith noted starving colonists could trade “love” for food [10]. sex work” is defined based on the understanding and attitudes Later in the late 1800s America, male sex workers were present towards the topic, changing from moral-based definition to a to trade in bars and beer halls [10]. thismore topic, neutral, which work-based is discussed definition. in the later The sections. reason for the dynamic definition of MSW may be influenced by shifting perspectives on In modern days era, prior to the establishment of sexology Brief history of male prostitution and homosexual/heterosexual framework in the 19th century, male sex workers performed the passive roles in sexual services In history, the conditions of male sex work are dependent to their dominant, active clients [16,17]. Male sex workers who on the degree of cultural acceptance afforded on prostitution performed the passive roles were regarded as distasteful, while and sexual interactions between two men [10]. Male sex work their clients who presume the active roles were considered to be appeared in literature as early as in 346 BCE, in the city-state of acceptable [9]. Chauncey [18] explains: “the predominant form of Athens and across cultures in the days of the Samurais in Japan, male prostitution seems

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