Sex Tourism in the Development of Transnational Identities Among Men

Abstracts

Numerous authors have talked about the challenges that the field of Social Work faces in the 21st Century. High among these challenges is the need for the field to respond to the process of globalization and the internationalization of social problems such as hunger, poverty, employment, population and refugees. One significant international social problem that has resulted from the process of globalization is sex tourism. Sex tourism is increasingly becoming one of the primary mechanisms interlocking developing and developed nations, and it is one of the dominant social structures interlocking relationships between First World Men and Third World Women. To date, very little attention has been given to this growing phenomenon. As a result, the purpose of this paper is to explore sexual tourism, and the role it plays in the development of transnational identities among men. The focus on transnational identities is a methodological decision, geared towards examining the "demand side" of the phenomena. In particular, the way(s) in which men who reside in wealthier nations participate in processes of 'racialization' and 'othering' of women. To satisfy these conditions, the paper is organized into four parts. Part I explores the growing phenomena of sex tourism. Part II explores the concept of "transnational identities" and describes how central this theme is to establishing the social structure of sex tourism. Part III looks at how addressing both these themes contribute to the development of international social work education.

Jewel Woods, MSW, MA Candidate
Organization: The University of Michigan, School of Social Work and The Renaissance Male Project, Inc
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Title of Presentation: Sex Tourism in The Development of Transnational Identities Among Men