An interdisciplinary study of the male sex industry

The male sex industry receives far less attention from social scientists than its female counterpart. Male Sex Work: A Business Doing Pleasure fills this gap in the literature, providing a multifaceted and nonjudgmental examination of the entire male sex industry. Expanding beyond the single category of street-based prostitute, the book encompasses other areas, such as stripping, performing in pornography, and escorting for an agency or on the Internet. Leading experts in wide-ranging disciplines employ methodological tools such as naturalistic observation, surveys, and personal interviews to provide an important interdisciplinary exploration of the topic.

Rather than concentrate specifically on psychological profiles of sex workers, Male Sex Work: A Business Doing Pleasure focuses on the less studied aspects of the industry, such as the relational dynamics of street prostitutes, the personal experiences of racism in a gay strip club, and others. Employing researchers from disciplines such as anthropology, English, psychology, and sociology, this unique resource provides a revealing look at what really goes on in the clubs, on the streets, on the Internet, and behind the scenes of the gay porn industry. The book includes extensive references.

Areas studied in Male Sex Work: A Business Doing Pleasure include:

• interpersonal relationships among male street prostitutes
• gay sex tourism
• strippers and the performance of sexuality
• the environmental context of male street prostitution
• racism and the male sex industry
• escorts and professional self-identity
• performers in pornography and the retrogressive dynamic
• the personal and community needs of Internet escorts
• the fluidity of power dynamics between stripper and customer

Male Sex Work: A Business Doing Pleasure is an insightful resource valuable for educators and students in psychology, sociology, social work, men’s studies, sexology, anthropology, and gay and lesbian studies.