ABSTRACT
This chapter helps illuminate the working conditions of male sex workers in Mumbai, India, a city with a large number of venues for hiring sex workers—including public spaces and privately run pubs—but where male sex workers live in the shadows. Male sex work is not recognized in the laws of India, a nation that has only recently decriminalized homosexual acts, but it is nevertheless highly stigmatized. Even organizations that attempt to advocate on behalf of sex workers often ignore male sex workers. The study draws from interviews and field notes conducted with ten male sex workers between the ages of 20 and 29, some identifying as gay, some as bisexual, and some as straight. Their sexuality and self-identification influence their choice of clients and their perception of and comfort with sex work. The experience of male sex workers in Mumbai demonstrates the complexity of gender and sexuality and how they are embodied and negotiated in the sex work market. Soliciting clients largely occurs through street work; in public bathrooms, pubs, and parties; and through pimps. Working through a pimp is considered a safer option, because the pimp’s role is to find clients, negotiate fees, and provide support in any crisis situation. Not surprisingly, the sex workers attempt to present themselves as appealing to their clients. Some rely on gyms and others on beauty parlors to increase their attractiveness. The choice of means to increase desirability—gym visits or beauty services—is closely associated with the worker’s sexual identification and gender expression.
