Martin A. Monto

Female Prostitution, Customers, and Violence

Through a critical review of existing research, this article argues that (a) customers have been excluded from many debates surrounding prostitution, and including them will create a more robust dialogue regarding prostitution; (b) though prostitution seeking is often treated as a natural part of masculine sexual experience, most men do not pursue prostitutes, and very few are regular users; (c) many commonsense understandings of men’s motivations for seeking prostitutes are consistent with existing research; (d) a series of attitudinal orientations may help explain why some men meet their desires through prostitution and others do not, and may also help to explain some of the violence experienced by prostitutes; and (e) customers actively construct their encounters with prostitutes in ways that support their understandings of prostitution and their sexual desires, often working to maintain a sense of mutuality and consent. Incorporating customers into academic scholarship on prostitution can lead to more balanced research that better informs public policy.

A Comparison of the Male Customers of Female Street Prostitutes With National Samples of Men

Previous research on customers of prostitutes has relied on small samples and qualitative interviews. Conceptions of customers have tended toward either the “every man” perspective, which implies customers are no different than other men, or the “peculiar man” perspective, which implies customers are characterized by stark differences or psychological inadequacies. This study compares a large sample of men(N = 1672)arrested for trying to hire street prostitutes with nationally representative samples of men. Customers were less likely to be married, less likely to be happily married if married, and more likely to report being unhappy in general than men in the national samples. Customers also expressed greater sexual liberalism and reported thinking about sex, masturbating, and participating in other aspects of the sex industry more frequently than men in general. Most differences were small, indicating customers as a category differ from other men in degree rather than quality.

Predictors of Rape Myth Acceptance Among Male Clients of Female Street Prostitutes

Although female street prostitutes are frequent victims of violence, there has been little research on their male clients. This study explores the level of “rape myth acceptance” and the predictors of rape myth acceptance among 1,286 men arrested for trying to hire street prostitutes in San Francisco (n = 950), Las Vegas (n = 254), and Portland, Oregon (n = 82). Rape myths are attitudes believed to support sexual violence against women. Questionnaires were administered to arrested clients prior to participation in programs designed to discourage reoffense. Results indicate low levels of rape myth acceptance among respondents, although a small number expressed higher levels. The strongest predictors of rape myth acceptance in regression analyses were attraction to violent sexuality, sexual conservatism, and thinking about sex less frequently.

Male Customers of Prostituted Women Exploring Perceptions of Entitlement to Power and Control and Implications for Violent Behavior Toward Women

This study explores the underlyingstructure of the perceptions of 1,342 men arrested for tryingto hire a prostituted woman on the street. The analysis identified eight structural dimensions that accounted for 47% of the explained variance. Three factors contained items reflectingpatriarchal views of women and perceived entitlement to power and control, which are issues that could lead men to exhibit violence. Findings suggest that lower levels of education, conservative attitudes toward sexuality, more frequent pornography use, and traumatic life experiences may be related to entitlement to power and control factors, which in turn could be used to justify violence against women.

The Hobbyist and the Girlfriend Experience: Behaviors and Preferences of Male Customers of Internet Sexual Service Providers

This study provides descriptive information about the background characteristics, sexual preferences, attitudes, and motives of men (N = 584) who locate and contract with female Internet Sexual Service Providers (ISSP) for paid sex acts through a prostitute review site on the Web. The questionnaire-based findings showed these men preferred the “girlfriend experience” or GFE over all other personal qualities and behaviors. The study contributes to our understanding of a rapidly emerging category of men who seek sexual services on-line and their desire for mutuality and excitement in a provider who is willing to replicate some aspects of a conventional, non-remunerative romantic relationship.

A new standard of sexual behavior? Are claims associated with the "hookup culture" supported by general social survey data?

Popular media have described intimate relationships among contemporary college students as dominated by a pervasive sexual “hookup culture,” implying that students are involved in frequent sexual encounters pursued by both participants without the expectation of a continuing relationship. The hookup culture has been described as “a nationwide phenomenon that has largely replaced traditional dating on college campuses” (Bogle, 2008, p. 5). We tested whether these claims are supported among young adults (18–25) who had completed at least one year of college. Contrasting 1988–1996 waves of the General Social Survey with 2004–2012 waves, we found respondents from the current era did not report more sexual partners since age 18, more frequent sex, or more partners during the past year than respondents from the earlier era. Sexually active respondents from the current era were more likely than those from the earlier era to report sex with a casual date/pickup or friend, and less likely to report sex with a spouse/regular partner. These modest changes are consistent with cultural shifts in the “scripts” and terminology surrounding sexuality. We find no evidence of substantial changes in sexual behavior that would indicate a new or pervasive pattern of non-relational sex among contemporary college students.

Prostitution and fellatio

Questionnaires gathered from men arrested while trying to hire female prostitutes in three Western cities indicate that the desire for fellatio is an important reason clients seek female prostitutes. Respondents were more likely to select fellatio than any other practice when asked which sexual practices they (a) had ever experienced with a prostitute (81% in comparison to 55% for vaginal sex; N = 995), (b) usually experienced with a prostitute (51% in comparison to 12% for vaginal sex, the second most common practice; N = 926), and (c) experienced during their most recent sexual encounter with a prostitute (68% in comparison to 43% for vaginal sex; N = 424). Though a majority of respondents (65%) found the practice of fellatio very appealing, an even greater proportion expressed that opinion about vaginal intercourse (76%; N = 55). These findings, when analyzed in the context of other research on sexual practices, suggest that the desire for fellatio may be one reason some men seek prostitutes.

Correlates of Adolescent Male Sexual Offense: Prior Adult Sexual Contact, Sexual Attitudes, and Use of Sexually Explicit Materials

Juvenile sex offenders have been the subject of increasing interest to researchers, clinicians, and criminologists in recent years. In the present study, the authors explored the relationship between various sexual attitudes, use of sexually explicit materials, prevalence of prior adult sexual contact, and offender status in a group of 80 adolescent male sex offenders and a comparison group of 96 adolescent male nonoffenders. Offenders reported significantly higher rates of sexual touching and physical abuse by an adult than nonoffenders. Being a sex offender was negatively associated with the belief that homosexuality is wrong and beliefs in the so-called rape myths. Further, being a sex offender was significantly associated with the use of sexually explicit materials. These data may prove useful to clinicians and researchers interested in understanding the general correlates of sexual offense.

Ordinary or Peculiar Men? Comparing the Customers of Prostitutes With a Nationally Representative Sample of Men

Recent media attention implies that prostitution seeking is widespread, an “ordinary” aspect of masculine sexual behavior. Other accounts suggest that customers are “peculiar,” characterized by distinct qualities, perversions, or psychological impairments. Using the nationally representative General Social Survey (GSS), this study demonstrates that prostitution seeking is relatively uncommon. Only about 14% of men in the United States report having ever paid for sex, and only 1% report having done so during the previous year. Furthermore, this study dissects whether customers are ordinary or peculiar by comparing a new sample of active customers who solicit sex on the Internet with an older sample of arrested customers, a sample of customers from the GSS, and a nationally representative sample of noncustomers. The customers of Internet sexual service providers differed greatly from men in general and also from other customers. The remaining samples of customers differed slightly from noncustomers in general. We argue for a balanced perspective that recognizes the significant variety among customers. There is no evidence of a peculiar quality that differentiates customers in general from men who have not paid for sex.

Holding Men Accountable for Prostitution The Unique Approach of the Sexual Exploitation Education Project (SEEP)

The Sexual Exploitation Education Project (SEEP) of Portland, Oregon, is committed to making men more accountable for the persistence of prostitution by focusing attention on the customers who solicit sex from prostituted women. Under a cooperative agreement with the district court, men who are convicted of soliciting prostitution are required to participate in a weekend workshop conducted by SEEP, in which they are educated about the realities of the sex industry and its exploitative nature. Both men and women have been involved in the creation of SEEP and the facilitation of the weekend workshop. This article describes the perspectives that guide the project, the processes through which its unique workshop came into being, and the important and welcome ways that men are contributing to this issue and to this organization.