Male Prostitution in North America

While prostitution has become a relatively common practice throughout North America, the majority of prostitutes are female. As a result of this, significantly less research has been conducted on male prostitution, and much of the business remains enigmatic. Male prostitution can be defined as the act of providing sexual services in exchange for payment. It has been estimated that of the 40-42 million prostitutes in the world, 8-8.42 million of them are men. Homosexuality plays a defining role in this lucrative business, as females rarely choose to pay men for sex, causing other men to become the most common customers.

History

Male prostitution has a long and complex history, not only in North America, but throughout the world. As society's views on homosexuality evolves with time, so has the male prostitution business. The book Male Sex Work and Society by Victor Minichielo and John Scott highlights this. There are many notable examples that provide support for the claim that [male] prostitution has been present for centuries. These include:

• Roman Emperor Nero (37-68 AD) kept a "concubinus": a male or female slave that was forced to sexually pleasure him.
• During the 1600s in Italy, young men regularly participated in sexual relationships with older, rich benefactors. Surprisingly, they were not looked down upon for this, as their parents often supported them.
• In 17th century Japan, male actors-turned-prostitutes, often known as kabuku wakashu were used by both males and females. Additionally, it was not uncommon for Buddhist and samurai warriors to engage in sexual activities with their young apprentices.
• As far back as the 18th century, there have been reports of soldiers selling sexual services to other male clients. This created the term "barracks prostitution".
• John Saul was a well-known prostitute in Ireland during the late 1800s. He gained fame during a time that strictly discriminated against homosexuality. His defiance towards the Victorian era's closeted sexuality allowed him to create a name for himself, and he was even featured in two works of pornographic literature.
• Near the end of the 1800s and during the 1930s, which intersected with the Great Depression, male (often transvestite) prostitutes, also known as hustlers or "fairies" became very popular. So popular in fact, that several hustler bars and brothels opened and thrived.

21st Century

The laws and limitations surrounding prostitution in Canada, the USA, and Mexico frequently change as society's views towards sexuality evolve. While the laws generally apply to both male and female prostitutes as a whole, they are primarily catered towards women.

Canada

Although prostitution for both males and females is considered legal in Canada, there is a unique set of laws which make the act of legally selling one's body for money nearly impossible. In June of 2014, the government introduced Bill C-36. This declared that it is legal to sell sexual services, but is illegal to purchase sexual services. Additionally, it prohibits the promotion and advertising of others' sexual services. The goal for this is to decrease the demand for prostitution. Yet, Bill C-36 has faced significant backlash as some critics believe these stricter guidelines prevent prostitutes from certain safety procedures, such as screening clients before meeting them.

United States of America

Under the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution, prostitution is illegal in the USA, except for nine counties in the state of Nevada. Prostitution is considered a form of human trafficking, and the penalties for being charged with it varies from state to state. While male prostitution in Nevada is still uncommon due to a past law that required a cervical exam to be performed in order for a prostitute to be employed in a brothel, in 2010, the Shady Lady Ranch hired the USA's first legal male gigolo. However, in 2014, the Shady Lady Ranch was shut down. State laws in Nevada require that prostitutes working in brothels commit to monthly STI testing, and the use of condoms is mandatory.

Mexico

Prostitution in Mexico is decriminalized, yet the government still makes an effort to supervise the business. The laws regarding prostitution vary for each state, but the purchasing of sex from a minor under the age of 18 is illegal in all 31 states, as well as owning a brothel. Some areas of Mexico require prostitutes to obtain regular health checkups, but ultimately prostitution and sex trafficking is much more prevalent and less regulated in Mexico than the rest of North America. There have been very few studies conducted on male prostitution in Mexico, but it is known that the high level of HIV positive men makes the industry very dangerous.

Stigmatization Towards Male Prostitutes

"In heterosexual prostitution, the stigma is on the sex worker; in male prostitution, the stigma is on the client for his homosexual desires." (Bimbi, 2007, P.15).

Due to prostitution being a predominantly female-oriented industry, very little research has been conducted on male prostitution, and as a result, they are provided with very few resources and are hardly acknowledged. The term the "Invisible Man" has been coined to represent the lack of proper representation towards the males involved in the sex industry.

Homophobia in the Industry

Due to the homosexual nature of male prostitution, not only do male prostitutes have to face prejudice as a result of society's negative attitudes towards sex work, but they also must deal with those whom oppose the gay community. In this day and age, traditional views have created an image of the ideal person. Males are expected to play a certain role; that of the strong, emotionless, and heterosexual man. Those who do not fit into this box are immediately ostracized. The cost of masculinity is high, and male prostitutes or men who engage in sexual activities with them are instantly labeled as gay. Contrary to this belief, many male prostitutes do not identify as homosexual, but instead sell their bodies out of desperation or convenience.

Misrepresentation in the Media

Movies, television shows, novels, and social media have all portrayed male prostitutes in a variety of ways, yet have still managed to create stereotypes surrounding them. Gigolos (male prostitutes whose clients are women) have been shown in several movies and television shows, such as the film American Gigolo and the Showtime series Gigolos Both of these portray the male sex industry as glamorous and enjoyable. The men in Gigolos are young, handsome, and charismatic. They only engage in intercourse with females, and are proud of their profession. This is extremely inaccurate, as the vast majority of male prostitutes' clients are other men, and women very rarely pay for their services. The gay hustler, however, is depicted in a much less elegant light. He is seen as tragic and desperate, often using the money he earns for drugs and alcohol. As a result of his poor home life, he ran away from home and turned to the streets as his only way to support himself.

Further Reading

A message from the writer: As previously mentioned, there is very limited information on male prostitution, causing those who are involved in the industry to be forgotten and ignored. Because of this, it is important that we all educate ourselves. Some articles that I found particularly interesting and would recommend are:

Male Prostitution: Pathology, Paradigms, and Progress in Research by David S Bimbi

Male Prostitution in the Twentieth Century: Pseudohomosexuals, HoodlumHomosexuals, and Exploited Teens by Kerwin Kaye

Male Sex Work and Society by Victor Minichiello and John Scott