Prevailing male sex service in Myanmar

The business has grown large in the past two years and the owners have started recruiting drive especially via social networks, particularly Facebook.

“I enquired a massage parlour in Ahlon Township soon as I saw the vacancy announcement online. It said the salary was Ks 40,000 (US$40) a month plus 15 per cent allowance per section of service,” a man in his 20s said. 

The work does not need any experience or education level. The main qualifications are the height, fit body structure, good looks and patience, he added.

“The job is well-paid and doesn’t take much effort. The employer explained the job description thoroughly,” he continued.

Male massage parlours are rife in Ahlon, Mayangone, Sanchaung and Yankin townships and in some other suburban areas.

Some male prostitutes – aged between 18 and 30 – have connections with such massage parlours, and wait for the customers near the crowded places such as Bogyoke Market, Theingyizay Market, and the downtown area like Pansodan especially at night.

Have a look at the crowded places especially in downtown. You will find 10-15 men on the overpass near Theingyizay Market. If you take a closer look, you’ll see them bargaining with their clients,” said a taxi-driver who lives in downtown.

In the past, male prostitutes dressed in white shirts with roses inside the pockets could be seen at Theingyizay market overpass and Pansodan bus stop in the commercial city of Yangon. Some women took them to their houses and hotels by cars for their sexual pleasure. Most of such women are divorcees, sailors’ wives and women whose husbands are away. Nowadays, we hardly see them. Now they can make appointments on the internet and phones,” said a police officer from the Yangon Region. 

But some Facebook pages allure gays and women by spreading attractive male photos on its social networks. 

The widespread service causes concerns among health officers, for it could aggravate the widespread of sex-related diseases.

“Now we see male prostitution flourishing. This is one of the leading causes of the HIV infection,” said Dr Sit Naing from the Marie Stopes International (MSI) that has been providing best practice integrated sexual and reproductive healthcare services

 

No action yet 

Yangon Regional Police have conducted crackdown against female sex workers and massage parlours but the countermeasures against male hustlers are relatively seldom.

The Prostitution Act Section 3 (b) and the Police Act Section 30 (d) are frequently used to charge anyone involved in the business. 

 “No action has yet been taken against male massage parlours and prostitutes in Yangon Region,” said an anonymous police officer from the Yangon Region Police. 

 “There is a separate law against prostitution. But that law is only for female prostitutes. The criminal law includes a section that charged anyone involve in abnormal sexual intercourses,” said lawyer Kyaw Win. 

A headmaster from the Dagon Township Basic Education High School urged the government to crack down on such business, showing his concerns on younger generation.

MP Khin San Hlaing vowed to take the matter in his own hands.

 “I will submit a proposal to the parliament to effectively control the rise of such businesses in Yangon as it goes against Myanmar tradition and customs,” he said.