Sex for sale: qualitative study of male sex workers

1. RESEARCH AIMS, METHODOLOGY AND LIMITATIONS OF THE
RESEARCH
The Applied Criminology Centre was approached by the Phil Birch, Principal
Community Safety Officer (Specialist Crime Team)/SWEET and Project Manager
Community Safety/SWEET Project to investigate the nature and extent of the male
sex market in the area.
1.1 RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
This study set out to explore the experiences of male sex workers in Kirklees and
neighbouring areas. Specifically, it aimed, through interviews with male sex workers
(MSWs), to explore their reasons for engaging in sex work, to uncover the risks and
dangers they face, the nature of their contact with agencies, and the help and
support they required either to leave the profession or to conduct their work as safely
as possible. Interviews with sex workers explored the following broad themes:
• Childhood experiences
• Education and employment history
• Family and other significant relationships
• Contact with criminal justice agencies
• Important influences and turning points
• Current living conditions
• Length of time in sex work and reasons for starting
• Sexuality of sex workers and their clients
• Attitudes to sex work
• Actual and perceived dangers of the work
• Precautions taken to reduce the risks
• Involvement with agencies
• Future plans
The second main aim of the study was to test the feasibility of asking participants to
use a diary sheet to record their encounters with clients.