Perception of body and corporeality in men practicing male prostitution in Guadalajara, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To interpret the perception of the body and corporeality in a group of men practicing male prostitution in the center of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Method: An interpretive phenomenological study from the perspective of Heidegger; the perception of the body is taken as a category of analysis based on 20 in-depth interviews with 13 males practicing prostitution. Results: The interpretation of the body and corporeality in men who practice male prostitution centers on the following categories: a) the dirty body, stigma, b) body-seeking opportunities, c) the body and corporeality, appealing to customers, d) the initial contact and body language, and e) the value assigned to the body, the rate. Conclusion: The perception of the body and corporeality is part of a strong social stigma of the activity, as is the recognition of a hegemonic discourse of masculinity; the body is the linchpin of its practice.