Title
The Earning and Spending Habits of Male Sex Workers in Lima, Peru
Date Issued
01 January 2018
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Publisher(s)
SAGE
Abstract
Over the past decade, data have identified male sex work as a potentially viable economic decision; despite this, male sex workers (MSWs) continue to be perceived as group with access to few assets and resources. Using data from a pilot skills–building intervention for MSWs in Lima, Peru, an analysis of the economic characteristics of 209 MSWs is presented. The majority reported livable incomes with median earnings of US$250 per month, 83% earning above the urban poverty line. Interestingly, non-sex work was also an important source of income, especially for the high-earning MSWs. Spending data revealed that a large portion of income went to necessities (55%), luxuries (11%), and gifts (11%), with less toward savings (5%) and studies (1%). Such data on MSWs’ earnings and spending, which suggest that a lack of overall income is not the MSW’s main impediment to escaping poverty, could direct future poverty alleviation and health improvement programs in this key population.
Volume
8
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Temas sociales
Economía
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85044730185
Source
SAGE Open
ISSN of the container
21582440
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus