The words masseuse and masseur were once valid terms for describing a person who does massage on people for a profession. More recently the words are more associated with people doing massage out of a massage parlor which also was once a valid term for a place of massage.
These words are now more associated with people who are engaging in prostitution or other illegal acts.
Massage Therapist more accurately describes a professional massage therapist who does massage for relaxation along with doing massage for injuries, athletes and others. Massage Therapists are usually trained in the art and science of massage.
The word Bodywork or bodyworker is also used to describe massage or some say that massage is a type of bodywork. Bodywork can also be used to describe more intense or scientific massage (for lack of a better clarification) – massage that works to bring about change in the body.
Part of the problem in defining these terms is that there has been no professional support for defining the terms and clarifying what is considered to be massage or bodywork?
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I am a LMT in Florida and I don’t worry about what people call me but I definately don’t like being asked for sexual services. Go look at the theraputic and erotic section of your local craigslist and decide for yourself if law enforment is making a dent in the hookers claiming to be massage therapists!
“A nonprofit advocacy group against human sexual trafficking, called the Polaris Project, believes Craigslist is now the single largest source for prostitution, including child exploitation, in the country. The project surveyed all Craigslist pages for apparent prostitutes on Feb. 7 of this year. It identified thousands across the country… ” http://www.tigardtimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=119630091387727500
Write your local lawmakers TODAY!
I agree with your description completely and I have tried to create an awareness out there for those who ask me for “HAPPY ENDINGS”. This is a letter I wrote to a massage website recently:
Hi FAM,
Please understand I am in the process of changing how people view massage vs. prostitution and to shed some light on what is happening to gay massage. My request of you is to look at what is happening to the massage industry and to help change that.
I noticed that everyone (on FAM) in the MIAMI/FORT LAUDERDALE area is FAM approved when I know for a fact most of these guys DO NOT have a license. (I can name them by name for you if you want and give you their License numbers. I have access to that.) I thought your site says FAM approved means: massage therapists who have already submitted their credentials/documents as proof of their educational background in bodywork.
Did you know, in the state of Florida (as in most states), if one receives money for physically touching someone as an occupation, they are required by law to have a license? That means doctors, nurses, hair stylists, physical therapists, MASSAGE THERAPISTS, etc. need to have a license in order to be paid. All the others are permitted to touch others for FREE or it is considered ILLEGAL!
Considering the legalities of this, I do not understand why your site would permit UNlicensed people to advertise on your site (meaning prostitutes). I am quite aware that your site and other publications allow this. People say it’s free speech. Hypothetically, would it be okay with you for pot dealers to advertise your site? After all, both selling a joint and prostitution are misdemeanors in most states? People can do what they want, right?
Again, my request of you is to look at what is happening to the massage industry and to help change that.
I get calls from gay men looking for happy endings. Why??? Because of the escorts/prostitutes who advertise right next to where my photo used to be on this very site. Why else do they call me first vs. an escort? It is more cost effective to hire me at $70-115/hr vs. the $150-350/hr an escort charges. The clients probably thinks, “Oh, I will go to the guy that says he does non-sexual massage…of course he will write that in his profile but I bet he gives great head. It’s not really prostitution if someone gives me a hand job. I only asked for a little extra with my massage.” WRONG!
I, and many others on your site did not go to massage school and spend $5000+ on an education to give a good hand job.
The point being, people are confused about the difference of the massage profession vs. being an escort/rubdown artist. The lines are blurred now because many people see licensed professional right next to those who are not… even if they have a box to check to view ONLY LIC MASSAGE PROFESSIONALS…the APPROVED ones.
What goes on behind closed doors is out of my control and none of my business. What is my business, is MASSAGE THERAPY. I have a voice to request that Escorts be taken off the site all together and allow the massage therapists to have their own site so that the lines stay clear…help me unblur the lines. The decision starts with you to make a change in this part of the world.
I would love to come back to FAM but I have a difficult time advertising on a site that allows people to advertise illegally.
I am in the process of sending a similar letter to other sites and publications.
I hope that the situation changes.
I must admit, I personally call myself a massage therapist for the reasons you stated. Masseur does now have the connotation of having a sexual element. I like to make it clear that I offer a strictly professional therapy so I think Massage Therapist is appropriate.