This study considers how invisibility under the law can lead to stigmatisation. It examines how legal silence affects the stigmatisation process and the identity of male sex workers in Japan. Since male sex work is currently not recognised under Japanese law, male sex workers are not subject to control, regulation, punishment or protection. However, the number of male sex workers in Japan is increasing. Many studies have noted that male sex workers may experience double stigmatisation – referring to the stigma associated with homosexuality and the stigma associated with commercial sex. Male sex workers in Japan, however, may face an additional stigma caused by the fact that the law essentially ignores their existence. This paper draws on fieldwork interviews to show how the silence of the law can exacerbate the marginalisation and disempowerment of a vulnerable social group.

中文翻译：

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当法律沉默时：日本男性性工作者面临的耻辱和挑战

这项研究考虑了法律下的隐形如何导致污名化。它研究了法律沉默如何影响日本男性性工作者的污名化过程和身份。由于日本法律目前不承认男性性工作，因此男性性工作者不受控制、监管、惩罚或保护。然而，日本男性性工作者的数量正在增加。许多研究指出，男性性工作者可能会遭受双重污名——指的是与同性恋相关的污名和与商业性相关的污名。然而，日本的男性性工作者可能会面临额外的耻辱，因为法律基本上忽略了他们的存在。