The Routledge Handbook of Male Sex Work, Culture, and Society

This handbook is a comprehensive guide to contemporary issues associated with male sex work, covering historical, cultural, social, and economic aspects, as well as health outcomes and policy issues. It challenges myths and reconceptualizes male sex work as a discrete field, providing a vehicle for the voices of male sex workers and scholars. The findings have profound implications for government approaches to public health and regulation of the sex industry and society's understanding of human sexualities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 628 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive handbook is a definitive guide to contemporary issues associated with male sex work, making it an essential read for those exploring masculinities, male sexuality, sexual health, and sexual cultures. With its panoramic and provocative scope, the book offers valuable insights into this complex and often marginalized field. While the internet has brought the previously hidden worlds of male sex work into sharper focus, academic research has often limited itself to descriptions of male sex workers and their clients as perverse.

To challenge this narrow perspective, the chapters in this book draw from a diverse range of regions, providing a comprehensive examination of the historical, popular cultural, social, and economic aspects of sex work. They also explore demographic patterns, health outcomes, and policy issues related to male sex work. By shifting the focus from male sex work as a hidden social problem to a publicly acknowledged social phenomenon, the book challenges myths and reconceptualizes male sex work as a discrete field.

One of the key strengths of this handbook is its commitment to amplifying the voices of male sex workers and providing a platform for both new and established scholars to contribute their expertise. The book includes a diverse range of perspectives, ensuring that the complexities of male sex work are explored from multiple angles. This approach not only sheds light on the experiences of male sex workers but also contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the field.

Furthermore, the handbook reclaims male sex work from silence and invisibility, offering a richly detailed and humane exploration of this complex phenomenon. It challenges the notion that male sex work is solely associated with scandal and stigma, instead presenting it as a multifaceted social issue that requires empathy and understanding. The findings within this book have profound implications for how governments approach public health and regulation of the sex industry, as well as for how society can make sense of the complexities of human sexualities.

In conclusion, this handbook is a groundbreaking and essential resource for scholars, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in male sex work. Its comprehensive approach, rich insights, and commitment to amplifying the voices of male sex workers make it a major contribution to the field. By challenging myths and reconceptualizing male sex work as a discrete field, the book contributes to a more nuanced understanding of masculinities, male sexuality, sexual health, and sexual cultures.

Weight: 1150g
Dimension: 174 x 247 x 116 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367716042