Paid Sexual Encounters among Men

A Study in Ethics and Law

Timothy F. Murphy (University of Illinois College of Medicine, USA)

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Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Routledge
14 August 2025

Philosophy: aesthetics; Ethics & moral philosophy; Gender studies: men; Jurisprudence & philosophy of law; Gender & the law

Series: Routledge Research in Applied Ethics

This book analyzes the ethics of men buying and selling sex to one another. It gathers in one place key ethical and legal issues that bear on the justification for the criminalization of male prostitution.

At present, prostitution – the solicitation or offer of paid sexual encounters – is criminalized in virtually the entire United States. Male prostitution is poorly studied across academic disciplines, and this book represents the first sustained ethical analysis of the topic. First, it shows that paid sexual encounters among men belong on a spectrum of transactional sexual relationships and that many of their features are not distinctive in a way that justifies condemnation. It shows as well that the sexuality involved – men having sex with men – does not involve relationships that are immoral in a way that might justify criminalization. The book also demonstrates that men buying and selling sexual encounters can consent in morally meaningful ways, without reinforcing status inequality, Finally, the book reviews key constitutional law cases to show that a certain interpretation of the relationship between the law and morality justifies decriminalization of male prostitution.

Paid Sexual Encounters among Men will appeal to scholars and graduate students working in applied ethics, the philosophy of sex and gender, sociology, and law.

By: Timothy F. Murphy (University of Illinois College of Medicine USA)
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 453g
ISBN: 9781032946405
ISBN 10: 1032946407
Series: Routledge Research in Applied Ethics
Pages: 214
Publication Date: 14 August 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Timothy F. Murphy is Professor of Philosophy in the Biomedical Sciences at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago. He has written extensively on ethical issues facing sex and gender minorities in healthcare.