Of 80,000 men and women involved in UK prostitution, approximately one-third are males coming from overseas. A few do cater to women but most are paid to be with men - yet male escorts as well as their clients do not identify themselves as being homosexual; male sex workers note that many of their clients are married to women. Given such large numbers, one has formal sociology ignored males in the global sex trade? Instead, women are portrayed as victims while men are dismissed as having a choice; if they are recognized at all.
The invisibility of men and boys in scholarly discussions of the global sex trade was analyzed through a sample of 166 recent articles published in social science journals.
Most failed to acknowledge the existence of male sex workers at all.
When male sex workers were discussed, they were assigned considerably more agency than female sex workers, the chief danger ascribed to them was HIV rather than violence, and the question of their sexual orientation was always addressed, whereas female sex workers were always assumed heterosexual.
The results are discussed in the context of world system theory, Orientalism, and heteronormativity.
Reference: Dennis, J. (2008). Women are Victims, Men Make Choices: The Invisibility of Men and Boys in the Global Sex Trade. Gender Issues, 25, 11-25;