J. Browne et V. Minichiello, THE SOCIAL MEANINGS BEHIND MALE SEX WORK - IMPLICATIONS FOR SEXUAL INTERACTIONS, British journal of sociology, 46(4), 1995, pp. 598-622
This qualitative study explores the meanings of the commercial sexual
encounter between male sex workers and their clients. The study highli
ghts the various social meanings male sex workers attribute to having
sex, their typologies of clients, the psychic contexts of male commerc
ial sex, safer sex interactions, and how these issues inform sexual be
haviour. The data shows that the meaning attached to the act of having
sex is an important aspect of the way in which participants perceive
their partners, conduct themselves during sexual encounters, and engag
e in safe sex practices. Clients are categorized by sex workers accord
ing to their perceptions of 'them', which include 'marrieds', 'easy tr
ade', 'undesirables', 'sugar daddies' and 'heaven trade'. Different ty
pes of clients pose alternate levels of risk to the safe sex practices
of sex workers. The sex worker's definition of commercial sex as work
enables him to separate work and personal sex and define work sex as
'not real sex', in which safe sex practices symbolize both the degree
of self that is shared and protective work equipment. It was also foun
d that this sample of sex workers do not negotiate safe sex. Rather th
ey use 'modes of interaction' which direct the encounter either coward
s safe sex, or they refuse to continue with the transaction. The inter
active modes identified are 'natural', 'educative', 'challenge', 'othe
r options' and 'walk-out'. These modes of interaction are effective st
rategies for ensuring safe sex, and can be used by the broader communi
ty to gain partner compliance in safe sex practices.