Gay+and+Bisexual+American+Male+Exotic+Dancers


 * Breakdown of Male Sexual Orientation of Erotic Dancers in Research **

Sexual Orientation | Percent of total mentions (%)
 * Heterosexual | 18%
 * Homoseuxal | 78%
 * Bisexual | 4%

(Boden, 2007)


 * Implications of gay and bisexual male exotic dance in the United States **

Whether heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or transgendered this culture among male dancers is one of an individualistic nature. Depending on one's own social relations, individual experience and/or beliefs govern the choice to exist in this complex cultural arena filled with stigma from many other cultures regardless of sexual orientation. Looking at the research from the perspective of Koltko's psychology of worldviews most of the research falls into Rokeach's evaluative beliefs frame because they are always being judged and it’s either good or bad which keeps the stigma going on and on in this industry. The majority of the research that emphasizes this specific culture carries a tremendous amount of stigma when it comes to males VS females who engage in prostitution. This culture is still not accepted in mainstream society even still today when speaking about women in the industry. However, it is taken into a very different perspective among scholars as it relates to men who engage in prostitution. The research suggest that men are merely working and because the money begins to add up faster with more opportunity as a prostitute it’s “ok” to dabble in prostitution and porn if you’re a gay man because that was expected, as if it is the natural way to do business in this industry. Although heterosexual and homosexual men both prostitute with the opposite sex. Most of the research suggested that men who engage in sex work are almost always homosexual here in America and according to Boden, one of the few researchers that attempted to look at males in the sex work industry and their perceived sexuality reports how difficult it is to engage these men in a study due to the fast pace of the business. Most gay males that are erotic dancers in America fall into sex work after not being able to make the amount of money they made in the beginning of their careers. It appeared as though each individual experiences around the amount of money earned led to a path of prostitution. However, there is some locus of control that is internal for these men when performing because what is central to the performance is a constructed sexuality that is not reflective of the desires of the dancer but, rather, those of the consumer. They provide a fantasy that many customers wish to have beyond the performance, which is ultimately the goal because it keeps them coming back and possible offering larger amounts of money for sex later on.


 * Pro's and Cons **

Pro’s: these men are able to make a tremendous amount of money and they are often put into positions where they are able to make connections with people of power that could possibly enhance their dancing career. Cons: homosexual men having to sleep with women and hiding the truth about their sexuality depending on which arena you choose to work.


 * Conclusion **

As a clinician, it is crucial to be cognizant that there is so much variation in what people experience. Many different experiences genuinely led to exploring and understanding cultural difference within this culture. While simultaneously allowing one to hold onto a core set of values that is uniquely complex-truly to one's own there is so much room for interpretation, and development of understanding when it comes to physical attraction and the attraction to money in this line of work. We can find ourselves attracted to people, or things and not know why, people can have a “type” and find themselves only attracted to very specific things or people. "Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder” and that what each of us finds beautiful, sexy, or attractive can vary from moment to moment. As this is part of that “unexamined worldview” and quite possibly, could be how these men sometimes find themselves in prostitution after exotic dancing.

References Boden, D. M. (2007). Alienation of sexuality in male erotic dancing. Journal of homosexuality, 53(1-2), 129-152. DeMarco, J. R. (2007). Power and control in gay strip clubs. Journal of homosexuality, 53(1-2), 111-127. Logan, T. D. (2010). Personal characteristics, sexual behaviors, and male sex work a quantitative approach. American Sociological Review, 75(5), 679-704. McCaghy, C. H., & Skipper Jr, J. K. (1969). Lesbian Behavior as an Adaptation to the Occupation of Stripping. Social Problems, 262-270. Ronai, C. R. and R. Cross. 1998. "Dancing with Identity." Deviant Behavior 19: 99-119. Shaver, F. M. (2005). Sex work research methodological and ethical challenges. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20(3), 296-319. Skipper, J. K. and McCaghy, C. (1970). Stripteasers: The Anatomy and Career Contingencies of a Deviant Occupation." Social Problems, 17, 391-404. Retrieved from EBSCOhost T Tewksburg, R. 1993. "Male Strippers: Men Objectifying Men." In Christine L. Williams's (Ed) Doing Women’s Work: Men in Nontraditional Occupations. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc