Some of the studies cited in this document have found that male sex workers may make distinctions between their work and private lives, and that a different set of rules may apply with clients than with non-clients. Additionally, familiarity with regular clients may blur the lines between commercial sex and private sex, and could potentially lead to inconsistent condom use.214

These differences highlight the lines male sex workers may draw between personal sex and work sex. The male sex workers questioned in some Canadian studies appear to have two sets of rules for sex: one for regular partners and one for casual partners and clients.

Male sex workers may use condoms with clients but not with partners, because of a condom's ability to provide a physical and emotional barrier.215

A 1992 study conducted by the Canadian Organization for the Rights of Prostitutes found that

most of the prostitutes contacted indicated that they understood the message to use condoms with clients as a safety at work message. They could apply the information they received through the prevention program to contacts with clients. However, many stated that they generally ignored the message to use condoms/barriers with lovers/spouses. Two main reasons were given for not applying the prevention message to private sexual contacts: a) there was no perceived risk of infection in terms of private relations; and, b) the risk was viewed as no different than the risks others in the general population face, and the general population does not appear to be consistently using condoms with lovers/spouses. ... Since prostitutes make a separation between the work world and their private lives, prevention programs may have to do the same if they are to be effective. Prevention programs targeting prostitutes may have to develop a message that targets sexual relations with clients (work relations) and a separate message for sexual relations with lovers/spouses.216

In a paper presented in Montreal in 1996, male sex workers were found to be less likely to have anal sex with clients than with their primary partners and more likely to use condoms with clients, regardless of the type of sexual activity.217

These differences are another facet of male sex work in Canada that will require further exploration before the implications for HIV policy, education and outreach become clear.

Footnotes

214. Jackson, L. and Highcrest, A., "Female Prostitutes in North America: What Are Their Risks of HIV Infection?" in Sherr, L., Hankins, C. and Bennett, L., eds., AIDS as a Gender Issue: Psychosocial Perspectives, London, Taylor and Francis, 1996, cited in de Bruyn, T., HIV/AIDS and Discrimination: A Discussion Paper, Joint Project on Legal and Ethical Issues Raised by HIV/AIDS, Montreal, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, and Ottawa, Canadian AIDS Society, 1998. [back]

216. Highcrest, A. and Maki, K., Prostitutes: AIDS Prevention in Their Private Lives, alternately titled When Love is Illegal: AIDS Prevention in the Context of the Private Sex Lives of Prostitutes, paper presented to the VIIIth International Conference on AIDS, Amsterdam, Netherlands, July 1992.

217. Shaver, F. and Newmeyer, T., Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Comparison of the Sexual Practices and Risk-Taking Behaviour of Gay and Bisexual Men and Male Prostitutes, paper presented to Sida, jeunesse et prévention. Au-delà du discours, des actions!, at the 64th conference of ACFAS, Montreal, May 1996.