Sex Trafficking of Men: An Overlooked Topic!

The independent researchers Sandra Müller and Veronika Ehm conducted an empirical social research on sex trafficking of men in Vienna, Austria. This research sheds light on the situation of the most neglected group of victims of human trafficking: men trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Societies, politics as well as legal approaches on the phenomenon are discussed as well as accompanying gender dynamics on the issue. In the first step, this field research explored the phenomenon of male sex work in Vienna, Austria. Scenes of sex work that share specific characteristics are formulated. Within the different scenes, the sex work’s organization as well as profiles of sex workers differs regarding the price range for sexual services, the level of the sex workers independence as well as reasons for working in the sex business. In the second step, evidence of male sex workers being possible victims of sex trafficking is highlighted. During the analysis seven indicators were essential, such as sex workers recruitment under false promises of work, power and control of someone, frequent change of location, similar advertisements, lack of language skills of country of residence, more venues than registered and bigger number of sex workers than registered. This research identifies the vulnerability of sex workers being trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Next to the researches, also experts, including social worker providing assistance, expressed the need of a more specific focus on the issue. Therefore, victims would need to be given a voice. For further research it is necessary to talk to the ones affected, as this would allow first hand elaboration of the issue. Joint affords are needed to learn more about this phenomenon and to combat this crime.