The sexual intentions of male sex workers: An international study of escorts who advertise on the web

Abstract

In the past twenty years or so new discourses about the sex industry have emerged. They include a 'gender industry' discourse that openly acknowledges that there exists both a female and a male sex industry. The evidence suggests that male sex work is a growing enterprise and the male body is increasingly seen as a commodified product. The expansion of men's participation as sex workers is complemented by the growing eroticism of men's bodies in popular culture (Minichiello and Harvey 2007). For example, male-to-male pornography constitutes a sizable segment of the US pornography market, about one-third to one half of the $2.4 billion adult industry (Watson 2000). A decriminalisation and professionalisation of the sex industry has occurred as a 'sex' as 'work' discourse has also emerged. Here we see government and health and community agencies introducing, for example, professional standards for the industry through codes of practice, licensing requirements, professional guidelines for safe sex and client-worker interactions, health education and community outreach programmes. Likewise, a large number of sex workers are adopting a professional identity with regard to the quality of the services they provide to clients and how they promote themselves as workers in the recreation industry on the internet and via advertisements.