IndexIntroductionDefinition of sex tourismHistory of sex tourismVariations of sex tourismFemale sex tourismBeach BoysFeminist theories and analysesConclusionIntroductionThe United Nations has classified sex tourism and human trafficking as the third most widespread criminal activity worldwide; only drug trafficking and arms trafficking exceed sex tourism and human trafficking in their respective prevalence. According to United Nations studies, the industry has affected nearly 2 million humans globally, earning around $30 billion annually. (UN, 2018) Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay This essay aims to outline the roots of sex tourism in general and the development of female sex tourism. Subsequently, the two concepts of sex tourism and romantic holiday will be evaluated, while the main and detailed attention will be paid to female sex tourism. At least the theoretical approaches of Taylor Sanchez and Foucault will be outlined regarding sex tourism and prostitution. Definition of sex tourism Different trends and patterns regarding the types of sex tourism are occurring in different areas of the world. Therefore different definitions can be found. The Oxford Dictionary defines sex tourism as “The organization of holidays for the purpose of taking advantage of the lack of restrictions imposed on sexual activity and prostitution by some foreign countries” (Oxford Dictionaries, 2018). Sex tourism can be practiced by both women and men, just as the victims can vary in both sex and age. The industry is said to comprise over 80% female victims and approximately 20% children. Sex tourists are no longer just middle-aged white Western men, younger men and women of all ages from all over the world also engage in different types of tourism. Tourists do not have to have a certain income to be able to finance their clients, there is a wide range of sex work classes. These classes range from cheap prostitutes to high-end escorts (Laws, 2017). As the age of consent varies on a national and international basis, it allows individuals engaging in sex tourism to circumvent and exploit conflicting legislation and statutory systems. Although there is great concerted international action to end sex tourism and punish participants, the industry continues to thrive. The international community is still eager to fight this industry, as it often involves a violation of human rights and limits the freedom of those involved. Teenage pregnancies, transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, and mental and emotional disorders are just some of the direct consequences of the sex industry (Read, 2017).History of sex tourismWith the increase in the interconnectedness of the world, technological innovation and the liberalization of commercial services, the overall wealth of the world has increased. People around the world's interest in foreign countries and exotic experiences has increased, leading to a rapidly developing flow of travel. Today, tourism is a large and important economic sector for all countries. Along with the prosperity of the tourism sector, sex tourism has evolved rapidly. Over the past two decades, visibility, especially of Western tourists, participating in sex tours in non-Western countries has increased. Thanks to the development of the Internet, information and opportunities on sex tourism can easily be obtained. The interest in sexual experiences in foreign and exotic countries, with "different" people today attracts not only men but also women.women. Anonymity, low costs and non-interference from local governments are seen as advantages. Governments in developing countries share the view that sex tourism is generally mutually beneficial, as economic-sexual exchange helps local economies prosper. Such beliefs shape the global economic, political and sexual hierarchy that privileges American and European tourists. Sex tourism has become part of the global economy and is expected to expand even more in the years to come. The problem has received more and more criticism, also becoming the subject of the international community, but the phenomenon of sex tourism has not been established through globalization but rather promoted. Sex tourism has a long and complex global history of economic, political and sexual conquest, based on feelings and beliefs of power and superiority. Kempadoo states that “[…] prostitution today in the Caribbean islands is directly linked to their colonial history[…]” (Kempadoo, 2004). Most scholars, analyzing sex tourism, refer to the imperialistic actions of Western nations when asked about the inception of sex tourism. During the Age of Discovery, Western nations conquered countries and territories outside of Europe, establishing a dynamic in which subaltern nations were dependent on their respective external rulers. An unequal and dependent relationship developed within the social, political and economic environment of the colonies, with the conquering Western nations superior to the occupied nations. Colonial and postcolonial sex tourism embodies the same type of dependent relationship. Most citizens were farmers or workers, who earned little money. To ensure survival, women offered their bodies to the white Western man, to earn more money or to enjoy benefits. “White men,” often miles from their families, were eager to experiment with sexual relationships with different women. Padilla describes the continuity of people's sexual-economic exchanges, with tourists as a means of satisfying the sexual desires of former colonialists. It was and is considered more acceptable, if not charitable, to have sexual-economic relationships with "primitive" or "natural" people, who exhibit their sexuality in a way that deviates from Anglo-Saxon Christian moral discipline (Padilla, 2008). .The evolution of women engaging in sex tourism began with the sudden increase in transnational travel in the 1950s and 1960s and the development of women's roles in society. The granting of more rights to women, the loosening of previous family structures, and the equality of rank and treatment of women in Western civilizations have encouraged women to go abroad and experiment with their sexuality abroad. European women traveled and still travel, especially to the Mediterranean regions to find pleasure. Variations of sex tourism There are several classifications of sex tourism. Typically, a sex tourist travels to a different country with the primary motivation of engaging in commercial sexual relations. The tourist wants to experience sex, intimacy, exoticism, adventure and freedom from social constraints. The opportunity to experience something outside of your normal life, without fear of consequences is the main driving force. Especially in developing and underdeveloped countries, the price of prostitution is relatively low and with many illegal and secret organizations and without real law enforcement it is, compared to other regions of the world, easy to practice sex tourism (Padilla, 2008) . the way genres practice theSex tourism is different. While men look for services that offer organized sex, such as strip clubs or bathrooms choosing their own sexual partner, women are more looking for a beach holiday experience with men often of color, showing them affection and giving them attention. It's called "romantic vacation" and is often practiced by middle-aged Western women, usually overweight, divorced, or who have previously had unhealthy or violent relationship experiences. Attracted by so-called "beach boys", not prostitutes, they begin a "holiday romance", with the woman buying the man gifts and some additional monetary expenditure. The man shows interest and attention towards the woman, through sex and joint activities (Sanchez Taylor, 2006). Female sex tourism Women who travel to underdeveloped or developing countries for a "romantic vacation" are usually white, of middle-aged or older and come from Europe and North America. They travel alone or with friends. Seeking attention and love, the majority feel lonely, have reached a certain age, have low self-esteem or have experienced exploitative, abusive or unhappy relationships with men. Intentionally or unintentionally they enter into a short-term relationship with a black beach boy, spending time with them. Without contacts to sign, nor clear definitions about the agreement, many women believe that the men they meet on holiday are in love with them, implying women's unawareness that they are one half of a prostitution deal (Bindel, 2013). Sánchez Taylor explains why many tourists manage to delude themselves that they are not users of prostitutes. The explanation lies in their racialized power over men: “Racist ideas that black men are hypersexual and incapable of controlling their sexuality allow them to explain to themselves why such young, desirable men would be eager to have sex with older, older women. /or overweight, without having to think that their partners are only interested in them for economic reasons” (Sanchez, 2003). Phillips interprets this behavior with the colonial past of both Western countries and former colonialist countries. In her opinion, white people are once again, or perhaps still, colonizing and objectifying black sexuality. The allure of the typical black body makes white women want to "own" that body, almost like in the times of slaves. European colonialism had a great influence on the development of respective sexual behaviors (Phillips, 2003). A power imbalance can be witnessed in the relationship between the white woman and her respective black "beach boy". The tourist has an economic advantage over the person offering sex. “The awareness and deployment of such power becomes even more significant in the context of a postcolonial society where race, status, color, and class are strongly intertwined and where whiteness is accorded status and privilege” (Phillips, 2008). Only the word “tourist” indicates superiority and power. Tourists are wealthy people because they have enough money to go on holiday and in this case to pay for sexual services. Furthermore, the world implies a temporary moment, as the tourist visits a place for a certain period of time, until leaving to return home. Racial difference plays a significant role in the female sex tourist experience. White women who would never consider having an open relationship with a young black man in their home country feel free to do so while traveling and often use this as an example of their "anti-racism." However, the same women often treat their "boyfriend" as little more than a servant (Bindel, 2013).Beach BoysThe workers of thesex worker, or the so-called "beach boys", are usually young men, physically fit. Being a sex worker is often not the main job of those young people. They generally have jobs that put them in contact with tourists, such as restaurant waiters, activity organizers or tour guides. Being friendly and helping tourists feel welcomed and ensuring that foreigners have a good time is part of their job description. Intentionally, the jobs create a platform, making it easier for female tourists to approach them. “They stink, have rough skin and look like old dogs. No wonder they have to pay for a man” (Bindel, 2013). Disrespectful quotes and similar can be found in many interviews with sex guys. So why do beach boys offer their bodies and their time to tourists? DeMoya interviewed several beach boys, identifying that the main motivation was purely economic in nature. The lack of jobs in the economic sector in many African and Latin American countries, the pressure to care for their often very large families, together with the personal desire to achieve and succeed, summarize the incentives of sex workers. Starting your own small business and being independent is the dream of many beach boys deMoya spoke with (DeMoya, Garcia, Herold, 2001). Because many sex tourists have low self-esteem and/or are attention-seeking, they are vulnerable and fall in love more easily with boys. These women are more open to an exploitative relationship and turn a blind eye to reality, not noticing the manipulative and disingenuous behavior of the beach boys. Phillips interprets this behavior towards tourists as, “in a postcolonial background, beach trafficking may seem primarily a way to earn money, it may also provide an avenue for self-realization and role liberation,” but “having sexual intercourse with a white tourist can (also) be seen […] as a continuation of the dependence determined by a (sexual) working relationship” (Phillips, 2008). Feminist theories and analyzes Several academic scholars who analyze sex tourism have developed the main theories and analyzes that explain this behavior. Sanchez Taylor identified an unequal relationship in his analysis of power structures between men and women. Sexuality is the main influence and actor of man's behavior. Driven by the intention to reproduce, men see women as an object that helps them replicate. “In the sexual act,” women submit to men, and men assert their masculinity and patriarchal power by penetrating the female body” (Taylor Sanchez, 2006). Taylor describes this bond between the two sexes as a master-slave relationship, with men exercising and demonstrating their dominance over the woman and her body. This domination consequently creates unequal difference, neglecting the importance of class, race and age for an individual's social power and life chances. People tend to feel superior towards other people, who in their opinion are less worse than them. The feeling of superiority encourages the person who has that feeling to act in certain abusive, possessive, and exploitative ways. But Sanchez argues that women can also feel empowered by taking advantage of aspects of their heterosexuality and their ability to have children (Taylor Sanchez, 2006). Sanchez also denotes the problematic of female gender honor. According to Sanchez, women must first achieve gender honor, which is only possible through their sexuality. A heterosexual identity was and still is necessary to gain respect and appreciation within women's circles. The women who.