Sex Tourism is Disgusting
Trip Start
Oct 15, 2008
1
8
41
Trip End
Ongoing
Chiang Mai,
Thailand
Sunday, October 26, 2008
One of the disadvantages of solo travel is the lack of conversation. During the past 1.5 weeks I have experienced or witnessed certain phenomena that are difficult to process without a two-way dialog. Examples include 4 inch crawly things with too many legs, Joe the Plumber, and sex tourism.
The last item is the most disturbing. As most of you know, sex tourism is a major problem in Thailand. Although prostitution was made illegal in 1950, the government does very very little to enforce anti prostitution laws.
One of the more popular tourist attractions in Chiang Mai is the Pratu Chiang Mai night market. The streets leading up to the market are lined with open-air bars and clubs, some with porches or patios that extend onto the sidewalk. When I first walked the streets approaching the market, I was surprised to see that most of the bars were patronized by Thai women - quite an anomaly in such a tourist-dense area. It didn't take long to realize that the bars and clubs double as brothels. I witnessed men approaching the bars, sharing drinks with the women, and then disappearing into back rooms. I was shocked to find that the sex trade in Thailand occurs so completely out in the open, sometimes as an intentionally public display. Although there seems to be some stigma attached to sex workers and their patrons, the overall level of public acceptance bestows the act with a certain normalcy that makes me doubt whether it will ever be fully eradicated.
I don't know who I feel worse for - the Thai women and girls who are exoticized, objectified and often enslaved, or the pathetic men who are so addicted to sex that they travel halfway around the world to get it. While sex tourists come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the majority are white, fat, balding, travel alone, and often sport glasses and/or a Hawaiian shirt. Truly revolting specimens of humanity! I was thinking of taking some pictures to share on the blog but I don't think that would be quite right.
On a different subject, today is my last day in Chiang Mai. Tomorrow I leave for a week of volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park: http://www.elephantnaturefoundation.org/go/park. I won't have access to the Internet during my stay, but I'll be sure to tell you all about my new elephant friends when I return to Chiang Mai on 11/3.
Comments
that's only the half of it
Becky,
Yep you nailed it: as much as I adore this country -- the natural beauty, the prices, the food, the history and the people (at least some of them), that seedy side is there, and it is starting to ruin the kingdom for me. I used to feel bad for the women -- how the world's most disgusting farang come here to come onto them -- but lately I feel sorry for those losers who do, so many get their life savings sucked dry in the ongoing con: they have him buy a house (in their name) and then ditch him or squeeze him for money for their sick mother among other common scams.
In fact, I'm totally bummed out with Thai women lately -- not just the ones sitting around at the lady bars either. I've been hanging out with a Western guy -- and he's cream of the crop here, since he has all his hair, all his teeth, and a good body (well, frankly he's downright handsome), and every time we go out, the Thai women fight to wrest him away and give him their number the minute I'm not looking, they like the real sneaky stuff too. It's unreal: the cashier at the gourmet store, the pharmacist, every waitress at every restaurant we've been too -- they all come on to him the minute I'm out of hearing range. The last couple weeks have been worse: the stewardess on Air Asia palmed him her number from the aisle as she passed by and yesterday when I was in the kitchen making a cheese plate while he was waiting in the living room, suddenly my housekeeper (whom I tip lavishly and give clothes and perfume and gifts from my travels) showed up in the living room crawling around his chair with the vacuum. I looked over to see her flashing him the most wanton look I have ever seen in my life; he said she'd been looking at me, rolling her eyes, then flashing the desirous looks at him, and then flashed her boobs at him before he walked away. Well she's canned, but the problem is that so many of the women here -- except for the very well-to-do -- seem willing to sell their bodies and souls to snag a foreigner, whether he has one leg, three eyes and/or weighs in at 400 pounds. You can argue that there's little opportunity for women here outside of that whoring, but this is a society that teaches females to play it up: they learn to walk in stilettos as toddlers -- you can see them at the mall clomping around in their plastic high heels. It's too much, and really taints my view of a country that I once regarded as my favorite...
Hi Becky
I'm at Alex's house. We are talking about your blog. I finally registered, so I can comment. I am really impressed with the number of visitors you have had on this crazy site. Have fun with the elephants. They should provide some good conversation.
Enjoy the elephants
Becs, I just signed on and trying to get the hang of postings. Your tales are exciting and captivating. Will wait for the elephant park stories and adventures.
Love, Dad
oh rebecca...
i miss you.
kettle black
Just a couple of comments. One, according to ECPAT, there is more sex tourism in the USA than in Thailand, both proportionally and numerically.
Secondly, about 95% of prostitution in Thailand is patronized by Thai citizens, rather than tourists or foreign clientele.
Thirdly, prostitution in Thailand was decriminalized in 1992 and there hasn't been a single sex worker arrested since 1996. Law enforcement now focuses on pimps and procurers rather than sex workers.
Fourth, and most importantly, the sex workers involved in what you call sex tourism are there by choice, statistically speaking, and have chosen sex work over other occupations that are generally available to them.
So Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics and support a woman's right to the labour of her choice worldwide.
Tigers, and Lions, and Elephants - Oh My!
- Can't wait to hear about Rebecca tending to elephants' ADL's!
- Wonder if kidnapped children who are now child prostitutes in Thailand think they have made a conscious choice of profession? Doubt it!
Mom
Hi Rebecca
Rebecca --
your blog is wonderful. You're a natural anthropologist and the pics, esp of the temple, are fabulous. Mostly, it's my impression you are a food anthropologist, but maybe it's only early yet. The sex trade thing is quite sad to read about. Are you safe enough? Best to hang with the elephants. Best wishes, Nick & Becky
Sex Tourism - u need to travel more
- It is normal to get surprised by the stuff you see in chang mai, if you goto pathaya , it will be even more surprising. U have just seen it , if you interact with these ladies you will be absolutely astonished by their views about life they live.
- Men are sex hungry so its normal to find them at these places, but u will be more surprised to find women at Bali beaches looking for sex with locals.