ABSTRACT
In both Hong Kong and mainland China, male sex work is stigmatized as effeminate. To cope with this degraded status, male sex workers in the two Chinese societies construct their “occupational masculinity” in strikingly different ways, reflecting the different social contexts of the two systems. In Hong Kong, male sex workers, known as go-go-zai, adapt a “craftsmanship masculinity” in order to recast the meaning of male-male sex work. They emphasize the technical skills and professional work ethic needed to succeed in their occupation. In doing so, they redefine male sex work as a craft. They attempt to reclaim their male identity by associating themselves with skilled labor practiced by many other working-class men in Hong Kong. In contrast, in mainland China, male sex workers, known as “money boys,” adapt a “guerrilla masculinity” that reconfigures masculinity in terms of entrepreneurial aspirations. They frame their sex work experience as a rational means of achieving future success. They highlight the business acumen and physical freedom required in their work in order to portray it as a masculine pursuit. These tactics allow them to reclaim their masculinity by presenting themselves as men engaged in a businesslike activity. The differing strategies of male sex workers in Hong Kong and mainland China to reclaim their manhood correspond to the contrasting ideals of masculinity valued by the two Chinese societies. Rather than challenging their society’s masculine ideals, both the go-go-zai and the money boys attempt to conform to them. These attempts may have important psychological benefits for the individual workers, but they seem to have had little effect on their social status.
