This postdoctoral research project aims to demonstrate the complexities of compulsion and choice in commercial sex by examining men and gender nonconforming people who sell sexual services. It examines how migrant and Finnish cis and trans men and gender nonconforming people who sell sexual services to men and/or women in Finland construct their sexual and gender identity and negotiate their agency. The research is based on in-depth interviews (N=20-25) with men and gender nonconforming people who engage in commercial sex. Access to the field is established through various online platforms, as well as through established contacts in an NGO that offers services to sex workers, networks in the LGBTQ+ and sex positive communities. Due to the sensitive nature of the field, the highest ethical standards are maintained by ensuring informed consent, voluntary participation, avoidance of harm, and privacy. This project sheds light on an under-researched topic of men and gender nonconforming people selling sex, explores the complex web of power relations in commercial sex, and offers insights into the needs of an overlooked group that can be used by policymakers and activists.

2022