Whether it is South-East Asia or Latin America, sex tourism is something that not only exists, but happens in extremely high frequency and out in plain sight. The subject is relevant almost everywhere you travel. In fact, I have even written about it in the case of Costa Rica prostitution. However, in The Gambia I came to the realization that there is definitely another side to the sex tourism trade.
On just about every single beach in The Gambia you see it. Strapping local boys, all chiselled to the core, walking hand in hand with middle if not well beyond middle-aged women. To many of us the idea of a gigolo is almost amusing. Whereas female prostitution is seen as a serious issue, we often joke about the male version as being the perfect profession. Unlike the sad stories you hear of desperate women looking to earn a living when it comes to female prostitution, in the case of the Bumsters, I kept hearing about how the Bumsters themselves were the ones taking advantage of lonely European women shackled by years of work-imposed boredom.
Well, at least how we look at gender as a society. But does the fact that historically men have held a sexual dominance make this case any less important? The general perception of men in our society is of power, control, and command; whether we admit it or not. So when we see a Bumster walking with a white woman in West Africa rarely do we look at the idea that he is being exploited by the woman because he is poor and needs the money.
Rather, we look at the Bumster as taking advantage of a situation, a means of income. I mean, a man being paid to have sex? It sounds like a dream come true to the juvenile men of this world. The truth of the matter is likely completely different. Although these men may in fact take some pleasure in their employment β truthfully the sheer mechanics of the male physical engine requires such β we have to wonder if the world will ever look at them as victims. But really, who is taking advantage of whom?
Is anyone being taken advantage of? Does it even matter? You see, in many ways, seeing the trade being plied from the other side of the coin seems to give it different light. I believe in freedom of choice. In much of the world, pimps create victims, in which case there are obvious issues. There is also the issue of human trafficking which is also often link to prostitution. However, in The Gambia, just as is the case in much of Costa Rica, these workers are freelancers and enter the industry by their own choice.
