Sex Work Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Bogotá

Abstract

This qualitative study examined sex work among internally displaced male and transgender female sex workers in Bogotá, Colombia. Internal displacement has occurred in Colombia as a result of decades of conflict among armed groups and has created large-scale migration from rural to urban areas. Informed by the polymorphous model of sex work, which posits that contextual conditions shape the experience of sex work, we examined three main research questions. The first dealt with how internal displacement was related to the initiation of sex work; the second concerned the effect of agency on sex worker satisfaction; and the third examined how sex work in this context was related to HIV and other risks. Life history interviews were conducted with a 26 displaced individuals who had done sex work: 14 were men who have sex with men (MSM) and 12 were transgender women (natal males). Findings revealed that many participants began doing sex work in the period immediately after displacement, because of a lack of money, housing, and social support. HIV risk was greater during this time due to limited knowledge of HIV and inexperience negotiating safer sex with clients. Other findings indicated that sex workers who exerted more control and choice in the circumstances of their work reported greater satisfaction. In addition, we found that although many sex workers insisted on condom use with clients, several noted that they would sometimes have unprotected sex for additional money. Specific characteristics affecting the experience of sex work among the transgender women were also discussed.

Gender Affirmation and Body Modification Among Transgender Persons in Bogotá, Colombia

“…The data for this investigation came from a larger study examining HIV prevalence, sexual behavior, and attitudes toward circumcision among Colombian gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and men who have sex with men (MSM) (Bianchi et al, 2014; Reisen et al, 2014; Zea et al, 2013, 2015). The original study included an initial qualitative phase, followed by a quantitative phase.…”

Social-ecological factors associated with selling sex among men who have sex with men in Jamaica: results from a cross-sectional tablet-based survey

“…In Jamaica, cross-sectional surveys conducted with MSM in 2007 (n = 201) [12] and 2011 (n = 449) [2] identified the prevalence of sex-selling as 35.9% overall [2], and 30.5% and 39.4% among HIV negative and positive persons, respectively [12]. In contexts with pervasive sexual stigma and discrimination, MSM may experience limited access to education and employment, and may lose familial support; this may contribute to poverty, homelessness, and engagement in survival sex work for money in addition to food, rent, shelter, drugs, and/or alcohol [5,6,20,25]. …”

Partner-Level Factors Associated with Insertive and Receptive Condomless Anal Intercourse Among Transgender Women in Lima, Peru

“…In the absence of laws that recognize and protect individuals with gender non-conforming identities, TW in Peru regularly experience social discrimination, physical violence, and exclusion from education and work opportunities [1, 16]. Such legal and social disenfranchisement increase TW’s economic vulnerability and risk of engaging in transactional sexual partnerships in order to alleviate financial hardship [8, 17, 18]. The US-based gender affirmation framework for TW of color also posits that gender-based marginalization acts to socially undermine the gender identity of TW and creates a sense of gender-identity threat [19].…”