Male prostitution is generally regarded as a problematic phenomenon. This paper refutes this view by showing that most researchers have consistently selected only the problematic categories of male prostitution for their studies while ignoring successful prostitutes. A second difficulty is that many researchers explain male prostitution in terms of the individual psychosocial characteristics of those who practice it. Consequently little is known about male prostitution as an occupational/professional career. Based on ethnographic research in the world of male prostitution in Amsterdam, the occupation is analyzed as a commercial service-oriented business with economic and social characteristics typical of other small-and medium-sized businesses.
Ask anyone what the oldest profession in the world is and the odds are they will answer: prostitution. Nevertheless, prostitution is not usually regarded as a real profession and is more likely to evoke moral connotations, the more so if not women, but men are involved. Although relatively little is known about this social phenomenon, the reaction to male prostitution is generally one of apprehension.
Scientific literature reflects this prejudice born of moral disapproval. A few score (mostly American) studies of male prostitution have been undertaken, in which it is usually viewed as a multi-problematic phenomenon. It should be noted that most explain it by the psycho-social characteristics of those who practice it. Although the emphasis may differ, this research is predominantly directed towards the period which precedes a youth's first introduction to male prostitution and towards the problems resulting from it. The "Evil" of male prostitution itself remains shrouded in mystery.
Characteristically, this literature is based on "cause-cure assumptions" (Kamel, 1983), that is to say that the problems of male prostitution are seen as solvable. The damaging influence of a prostitute's existence is often so selfevident for these researchers, that they seek to develop strategies which will provide treatment for these young males and get them away from "the Life".