How perceptions of masculinity and intimate sexual relationships shape men’s experiences of paying for sex: A qualitative exploration

Rachel Tal-Hadar, Ayelet Prior*, Einat Peled

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how perceptions of masculinity, sexual intimate relationships and sex-for-pay (SFP) shape the experiences of men who pay women for sex (MPWS). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 Israeli MPWS. Participants were recruited through an STD community clinic, an anonymous online survey, ads posted in online forums for MPWS, and an organization for the abolition of prostitution. The findings offer a complex understanding of the experiences of MPWS, based on the intersections between their views of sexuality within long-term intimate relationships, and their perceptions of the acceptability of SFP within dominant discourses of masculinity. The findings comprise four experiential patterns of the multi-layered practice of paying for sex: Agonizing, Ambivalent, Intermittent and Simultaneous.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1016-1032
Number of pages17
JournalSexualities
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2024

Funding

FundersFunder number
Chinese Academy of SciencesXDA2010010306
National Natural Science Foundation of China92047202, 41072191, 41330634, 91125011

    Keywords

    • Men who pay women for sex
    • intimacy
    • masculinity
    • sex work
    • sexual relationship

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