Men Speak out About Purchasing Sex in New Zealand's Decriminalised
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Clients Coming Out – Men speak out about purchasing sex in New Zealand’s decriminalised environment By Shannon Betty Mower A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Criminology Social and Cultural Studies Victoria University of Wellington 2019 i Abstract This thesis explores the client experience of purchasing sex in New Zealand in the context of decriminalisation. This research was conducted at a time when speculation over the impact of decriminalisation on the conduct of clients was at an all-time high. Despite vast speculation by critics, little to no research exists on client populations in New Zealand. This thesis addresses this knowledge gap and offers an initial insight into the experiences of clients in this context. The research that forms the basis of this thesis involved qualitative semi-structured interviews with 12 men and women who purchase sex in New Zealand, along with three key informants with broader contextual knowledge of clients. The clients interviewed constituted a diverse group, and in many ways, they challenged common stereotypes. For example, while all participants were motivated by sexual desire, half the sample placed more significance on their desire for human interaction. Hegemonic masculinity was also discussed as motivating their engagements with the sex industry. The interviews also revealed the impacts of purchasing sex on participants, which related more to their interactions with sex workers than the physical act of having sex. Lastly, the research explored participants’ interactions with sex workers under decriminalisation, finding that they emphasised clear communication, respect of sex worker’s boundaries, and a desire to purchase sex ethically. There are three key conclusions of this thesis. Firstly, that client stereotypes are inapplicable to the entire client population as the participants challenged many and provided support for the ‘every man perspective’. Second, that support exists for non-sexual client motivations, and following the impacts participants discussed, sex workers and their services can be considered therapeutic and supporting the well-being of participants. Lastly, that legal context does make a difference on the conduct within sex industries and under decriminalisation. The participants’ conduct was driven by an awareness for sex worker rights and working conditions, thus producing an informed, harm-reductionist approach to purchasing sex. ii Acknowledgments This thesis would not exist without the support networks which surround me. First and foremost, thank you to my supervisors Lynzi Armstrong and Jan Jordan. Your guidance has shaped this thesis, and I am endlessly grateful. Of equal importance are my parents, Neil and Heather, who have emotionally and financially carried me throughout five years of university education. Thank you, I cannot express in words how much I appreciate you both and your unwavering belief in me. To my friends, thank you for listening to me lament over this thesis, offering motivation when mine was lacking, and for unravelling any self-doubt. To those on level nine of the Murphy building at Victoria University, we have experienced the University journey together – thank you for sharing mine with me. Lastly, to the participants, thank you for sharing your stories with me, all of which were deeply personal. Doing so took courage and vulnerability, yet enabled this thesis, so thank you. iii Table of Contents Chapter One: Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 Key Definitions and Terminology........................................................................................................ 3 Understanding Commercial Sex in New Zealand .......................................................................... 4 The Research Objective ........................................................................................................................... 5 Thesis Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter Two: Literature Review ................................................................................................ 7 Feminist Theorising on the Sale and Purchase of Sex ................................................................. 7 Contemporary Legislative Approaches to Sex Work ................................................................... 9 Full and Partial Criminalisation ..................................................................................................... 10 The Swedish Model – Client Specific Criminalisation ........................................................... 12 Legalisation – A Two-Tiered System ........................................................................................... 13 Decriminalisation – A Human Rights Model ............................................................................. 14 Decriminalisation in New Zealand .................................................................................................... 14 The Arguments Against Decriminalisation – Empirical or Anecdotal? .......................... 16 The Clients of Sex Workers .................................................................................................................. 17 New Zealand Research on Clients Pre-Decriminalisation ................................................... 18 International Research on Clients ................................................................................................ 18 Motivations – Understanding Why Men Purchase Sex ......................................................... 20 Sex as the ‘Extra’ – Client Perceptions of Intimacy ................................................................ 21 Affirming ‘Manhood’ or Gendered Domination? The Relationship between Masculinity and the Client Identity .............................................................................................. 23 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 24 Chapter Three: Methodological Framework ....................................................................... 26 Epistemology and Research Design.................................................................................................. 26 Theoretical Perspective......................................................................................................................... 28 Ethical Considerations ........................................................................................................................... 28 Ethics Process ....................................................................................................................................... 28 Ensuring Reflexivity ........................................................................................................................... 30 Research Process – Participants, Data Collection, and Analysis ........................................... 31 Participants and Recruitment ........................................................................................................ 31 Data Collection ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Data Analysis ......................................................................................................................................... 36 Practical Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 38 iv Research Challenges – Conducting Sexually Charged Research as a Woman .................. 39 Chapter Four: Introducing the Participants and Addressing Common Client Stereotypes ...................................................................................................................................... 43 Profiling the Participants ...................................................................................................................... 43 Who are the Participants? ................................................................................................................ 44 Participant Purchasing Frequencies and Trajectories .......................................................... 45 How the Participants Accessed Commercial Sex .................................................................... 48 Participants’ Preferred Sexual Services ...................................................................................... 50 Stigma and the Spoiled Identities of Clients .................................................................................. 54 The Impacts of Stigma and Stereotyping on Clients .............................................................. 55 How do the Participants Compare to Common Stigmatisation? ....................................... 57 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 58 Chapter Five: Client Motivations for Purchasing Sex and the Resulting Impacts ... 59 Push vs Pull Factors for Purchasing Sex ......................................................................................... 59 Access to Sex – Pleasure