Black+Male+American+Exotic+Dancers

By Kristin Chapman

Background Research
There is very little research specific to African American male exotic dancers. Articles that focus on men, tend to investigate male sex work in general. The research goal in these articles is HIV prevention and outreach. Risk factors for this population include homelessness, hunger, and drug use (Stephens, Braithwaite, Lubin, Colbert, & Carn, 2000). Due to the lack of education and stigma attached to HIV testing, researchers found that African American men are less receptive to outreach and have less access to health services. Stigmatization of homosexuality in communities of color may also influence the availability or acceptance of HIV/AIDS education and services (Jones, Rasch, MacMaster, Adams, & Cooper, 2009).

The attention given to sexual orientation in earlier studies of male exotic dancers also resulted in research that neglected other social demographics, leaving race and ethnicity relatively ignored. This may be partially due to the fact that Black exotic dancers make up a smaller percentage of the men seen in these clubs (see Table 1 below). Minichiello, Scott, and Callander (2013) believe the stigma associated with men who work in the sex industry might also explain why men of color have largely been absent from this literature. Black men may have been reluctant to participate when approached by researchers, especially when taking into account the limited sexual and gender scripts they are expected to fulfill both within gay and straight communities.

Percantage of Male African American Exotic Dancers in Research (Table 1)
__ Ethnicity | Percent of total mentions (%) __ White/Caucasian | 63% African American | 22% Hispanic/Latino | 15%

(Boden, 2007)

Introduction
Markers of masculinity play a key role in how price premiums among male sex workers and exotic dancers are determined. High ticket items often include whiteness, youth, being middle class, muscular physique, height, and body hair (Logan, 2010). These markers are rooted in a notion of the ideal White body and position race as an overarching determinant of physical attractiveness. Research indicates that there is a racial hierarchy in male exotic dancing, with the largest client group being White, middle-class men, some of whom hold racially stereotyped views and fantasies about men of color (Koken et al., 2009).

Male dancers who exhibit masculine behavior bring in more money for their services, whereas those who perform with less masculine behavior make significantly less, a differential of 17 percent. Men of particular races are therefore rewarded for downplaying or emphasizing certain sexual behaviors or physical features (Logan, 2010).

Historical Context of Male Exotic Dancing
Logan (2010) discusses the American ideal of sexuality and how it is rooted in the American concept of masculinity which includes a racial component. Historically during the 1800s, White members of society justified slavery by promoting the image of a docile and harmless slave. This pacified fears of uprisings in the South and depicted slave owners as paternal guardians of these "simple beings". After the Civil War, many Re-constructionists claimed that without the structure of slavery, Blacks would revert to their animalistic barbarism. Blacks were no longer portrayed as simplistic, childlike creatures, but rather as innately savage, destructive, and criminal beings. They were considered hazards to the well-being of society, and predators who targeted Whites, especially White women (" Sex and the Degradation of Women", n.d.).

White men were then to protect White women from Black sexuality, and this “threat” legitimated White men’s social control of women and over Blacks. For White men and women, Black men’s sexuality became a taboo turning them into objects of desire due to the lingering belief that Black men are sexually aggressive, dominant and unrestrained. In this way, racial stereotypes interact with notions of masculinity to produce a desire for hypermasculine black men (Logan, 2010).

Understanding the Racial Component
The stereotype of the sexually dominant Black man, rather than being an agent of fear, thus lead to a celebration of this hypersexual behavior, appearance, and conduct. In this theory, the general level of social interaction between Black and White gay men is relatively low and occurs chiefly over sex. Black men who demonstrate hypermasculine and sexually aggressive behavior are offered entry into White gay spaces, but this entry is limited to sexual liaisons. McBride (2005), for example, notes the limited range in which Black men interact with Whites in gay pornography, where the vast majority of Black performers are tops and adopt an anti-social persona. Robinson (2008) finds that White gay men largely ignore and devalue Black male exotic dancers who do not preform the stereotype of the hypermasculine Black male, suggesting that the penalties for nonconformity may be particularly harsh.

Influence of Racial Stereotyping
Logan (2010) notes that this racial stereotyping and stratification gives rise to unique values for sexual practices among particular racial groups. For example, Black men who top (penetrate their partner) report receiving higher payments than other racial groups, while Black men who bottom (receive penetration) report being penalized in comparison to other racial groups (Logan, 2010). Black, Hispanic,and White men each receive a substantial premium for being tops, but the largest premium is for Black men (nearly 12 percent, $24). The penalty for being a bottom also varies by race: White bottoms face a penalty of nearly seven percent ($14), while Black bottoms face a penalty of nearly 30 percent ($60), the largest penalty seen in any of the results. This promotes an ideology that Black men are expected to be dominant in sexual spaces. These results are consistent with Logan’s (2010) theory, in which Black men who conform to stereotypes of hypermasculinity and sexual dominance are highly sought after, and those who do not conform are severely penalized.

Personal Account: A Field Research Interview
The Cultural Differences Between Black and White Male Erotic Dancers

Recommendations
When working with this population professionally, my first suggestion would be steer away from assuming these men are not taking care of their health or do not understand the sexual risks. A well intentioned researcher for instance, may put them off by making assumptions about their education or judgement.

African American men in the sex industry and exotic dancing world are socialized to focus on having an extremely muscular appearance and consistently act animalistic with their persona or sexuality. For this reason I think counselors need to take into account that these restrictions could create mental health issues such as depression or substance abuse as well as body dysmorphia when trying to maintain a perfect physique.