A Manosphere Brotherhood Against the Law: Masculinity Threat and Legal Consciousness in Online Networks for Buyers of Sex in Illinois

Introduction Discussions about commercial sex have historically overlooked sex purchasers. Previous research often focused on sex workers, limiting our understanding of the social relationships and forms of masculinity that characterize and reproduce the industry. This research adds to growing research on sex purchasers in the "manosphere" by examining which policies purchasers themselves may consider effective or ineffective at deterring the buying of sex, a question that elucidates how law matters to this and other stigmatized populations. Methods This study focuses on the exchange of information among men who post on online "johns' boards" that contain discussion forums for every type of commercial sex venue in Illinois (both indoor and outdoor, initiated in-person and online). I conducted a content analysis of 1,684 posts made in 2010, before, during, and after the passage of legislation in Illinois designed to curtail the demand for commercial sex. Results Forum posts indicate that many posters, who band together as what they call a "brotherhood" under the banner of persecuted masculinity, pay close attention to changes in statewide legislation and local law enforcement policies regarding prostitution. Conclusions I argue that when purchasers perceive policies as tangible, ongoing threats, their legal consciousness shifts, and law enforcement is no longer seen as a manageable risk within the manosphere brotherhood. Policy Implications This reaffirms the importance of the internet in shaping commercial sex industries and has wider implications for our understanding of how men who share perceptions of masculinity threat react to new deterrence policies for sex purchasing.