Citation

Blevins KR, Holt TJ. J. Contemp. Ethnogr. 2009; 38(5): 619-648.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0891241609342239

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The growth of the Internet and computer-mediated communications has enabled the formation of a variety of deviant subcultures online, particularly among sexual deviants.This qualitative study examines the subculture of the male heterosexual clients of sex workers by exploring their argot. Using a sample of posts from Web forums in ten U.S. cities, this study identifies three subcultural norms that structure beliefs and attitudes about sex work among johns: experience, commodification, and sexuality. The influence of computer-mediated communications on the formation of subcultures and argot are explored as well.