Is sex tourism about peace, love and happiness - or does it hide an uncomfortable truth?
Every year, tourists flock to Southeast Asia, in hopes of netting the tropical ocean dream.
Khaosan Road, Bangkok’s backpacker coconut cream pie, proves that not only can you sleep for three dollars a night, but you can also be anyone you want in Paradise.
For some, this means picking up dreadlocks while exiting Watson’s pharmacy, and wearing more tie-dye than would fit in the back of a VW van.
For others, however, it means purchasing sexual services from a woman, man, or even a child, and imagining themselves as Love Gods.
One can smell a lot of things on Khaosan Road- patchouli, pineapples, Pad Thai, and as well, the more pungent odor of sex tourism- the question is, whether or not it’s all about peace, love and happiness.
Sex tourism, present throughout the world, is particularly prevalent in South East Asia, where the connected problems of human trafficking, AIDS, and poverty, continue to flourish and claim lives at unprecedented rates.
The Choice To Sell
Sex tourists, defined as “those who travel to a country for the sole purpose of having sex” see it as an opportunity, or even an entitlement, to have sex available for less money than they would pay at home.
Sex tourists tend not to differentiate between buying groceries, and going to the brothel to buy sex - both provide someone with economic sustenance.
They perceive that those involved in the industry are making a choice to sell their services.
Some even say they are “helping” sex workers, as other available labor, particularly for women, generally yields a lower profit. Sex tourists tend not to differentiate between buying groceries, and going to the brothel to buy sex- both provide someone with economic sustenance.
It is also true that some sex workers tend not to distinguish between sex work and other work, which may or may not be any less exploitative- the difference, is in the body parts used.
We Westerners, products of Christian influence, have moralized sex, unlike in some other countries, including some Southeast Asian nations, where it is seen in more neutral terms.
Many sex workers wish to provide services without judgment or police interference, and continue to fight for better protection within the industry.
A Critical Eye
As an English teacher in Thailand for over a year, I had the opportunity of having a closer look at the sex industry in Southeast Asia.
I felt that sex tourists, and brothel-goers in general, radiated a patriarchal sense of entitlement which, in the case of the foreigners, would not be acceptable, or even possible, back home.
Honestly speaking, women who envision a grand life for themselves and their children are not lined up for extra-curricular sex with some (excuse the cliché) foul-mannered, overweight, middle-aged, married, balding alcoholic- only the most vulnerable are really up for this job.
Many sex tourists, who wouldn’t even be eligible for a date back in Germany, Canada, Australia, or wherever else they come from, find solace in the fact that their money buys their egos back, at the expense of someone else’s health or happiness.
Money buys their egos back, at the expense of someone else’s health or happiness.
The gratification is not in the sex (for even the married ones have it right up there lying in the bed) but in the fact that they have monetary power, and society supports the idea that money can buy you anything, including a beautiful woman or girl.
This ideology reeks with dehumanization and confirms that men are mere providers of money, and women are subject to its rule. There is also plenty of gay sex-tourism, in which (mostly young) boys are exploited in the same way as women.
Sex tourism, then, is a tragedy, for both the sex workers, who don’t always choose to be there, and for the men who pay them.
A Forced Profession
I do not mean to say that sex tourism, or sex work, for that matter, is a black and white issue, and for those sex workers who love their jobs, I am no one to judge their choices or their profession.
However, we can’t ignore the fact that many people are smuggled and then forced into the trade, either by lack of any other option, or by pimps, or even by their family members, who may be desperate for a piece of the profit.
As well, the risk factors for sex workers are very high, and many succumb to AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Those who seek out sexual services, particularly those who are married or in other relationships, risk the lives of their partners when they return home.
Some say that sex tourism is about sex, but I think it’s about power and opportunism.
While awareness and prevention is the key to preventing these unfortunate outcomes, it is a reality that many wives, girlfriends, and boyfriends still become infected with these diseases, due to the irresponsibility of their loved ones.
Some say that sex tourism is about sex, but I think it’s about power and opportunism. I am not sure we are reaching our human potential, as tourists and ambassadors of our nations, by contributing to additional social gaps in the world.
While it is true that sex workers make more money than working in the market, there are other, more effective ways to improve the lives of people, besides buying sex from them.
For those women, men and children who are trafficked, or bound to the trade by economic desperation, it seems hopelessly unfair that they should have to sacrifice the most personal areas of their bodies for the sake of someone’s vacation, ego, or fantasy whim.
Perhaps as tourists, and as people, before we depart, we might care to ponder not only others’ choices, but also our own, and what we want to make of them.
Emily Hansen is a travel writer and teacher based in Shimla, India, where she is working on a book about her experiences as an expat. Her native land is Canada, and she has traveled to over 30 countries, and has lived in six, including Germany, China, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and now, India. What’s your view on sex tourism? Please share in the comments.
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I think it’s important to make a distinction here between sex tourism involving adults, and pedophilia.
“There is also plenty of gay sex-tourism, in which (mostly young) boys are exploited in the same way as women.”
Men who have sex with young boys are not “gay” in any normal sense any more than men who have sex with young girls are “straight” - they are pedophiles either way, and therefore criminals pretty much everywhere in the world, as far as I’m aware. Whereas in some countries sex tourists are entirely within their legal rights, whatever our personal feelings on the morality of what they’re doing.
There are arguments on both sides of the prostitution issue - legalization or decriminalization as a means of regulating the industry and therefore protecting the women, for example, versus legalization as an endorsement of an industry that in western countries often exploits drug addicts, and in Asia has often been linked to kidnapping etc. I’ve never quite worked out my views on the subject, but I don’t think anyone on either side of the debate is openly advocating for legalized sex with young children.
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For me, the worst part of this disgusting reality was when I lived for a long time in the Philippines and I actually start to get used to it. I certainly never condoned it and I never stopped being absolutely repulsed by it, but you see so many European (and unfortunately Australians) ‘dating’ very young girls (and boys) in places like that that you actually become a bit de-sensitised to it.
Maybe that’s the problem: it just seems like too big a problem for one person to do anything about it so we all just partly ignore it, while still always being angry about it.
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Although the numbers are smaller, you have to mention the thousands of white MILFs who go to Africa, the Caribbean and South America each year looking for black men for sex. Nobody seems to be upset when they do it, why?
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Thank-you Eva, for your comments on my article. I did in fact miss elaborating on the pedophilia problem, which is in fact a BIG issue which I would have liked to have written about further.
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johnny - i think the relationship between women in Africa and the Caribbean is perhaps a similar issue, but i believe the scope is nowhere near as large.
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Johnny…
I’ve heard your argument before, many times. While yes, female sex tourists do exist(and you are free to be upset about it, Johnny, and it could be subject for a wonderful Brave New traveler article!)the scope is NOT nearly as large, and they mostly make Jerry Springer on TV…I don’t see advertisements urging MILFS everywhere to come and sign up for a “bus travel sex adventure” with Carribean boys just so they can tell the girls back home what a great time they had! Just try working with a staffload of these guys for a year and then tell me not to get my nylons in a knot!↵ -
And with female sex tourists there’s a different power dynamic as well… There isn’t the same sense of potential threat, I don’t think. I’ve rarely heard of male prostitutes being murdered by their female johns (janes?), and never heard of a female serial killer who preys on male prostitutes.
I suppose it seems like a double standard to some people to treat them differently, but Ian and Emily made very good points about scale: in SE Asia it seems like entire communities revolve around this industry, but it all caters to men and no one is too concerned about trying to capture the female share of the market - because there isn’t much of one in comparison.
Nice homepage, by the way, Johnny. I can see you’re entirely unbiased in this debate…
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There a really good new movie about female sex tourism called “Heading South” that you can watch on Netflix instantly. What’s interesting is that while there are clear differences, there are also similar themes: power, money, and self-esteem. The problem is nowhere near as large or disturbing as the problem in SE Asia but the exploitation of young black boys by older white females is a problem that nevertheless needs to be addressed. Here’s a link to a must-read article if you are interested in the subject:http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/story.html?id=a62567b9-2186-4f07-b2b9-d55f9fd39d61
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Sorry, the link was too long but if you google the title of the article “Women seeking beach boys” it’s the first hit, it’s from canada.com
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A very nice article on sex tourism in Thailand, infact the area of Thailand is pretty much known for a lot of trafficking of women and children it is nice to read somone paying attention to those areas of thailand apart for the beach holiday resort.
Very nice.
good luck .↵ -
I thought this was another uninformed article about the Thai sex industry.
You wrote, “We Westerners, products of Christian influence, have moralized sex, unlike in some other countries, including some Southeast Asian nations, where it is seen in more neutral terms”
So you admit Thais have different values to us Westerners but then go on to impose your values on them anyway.
After all those years abroad it seems you still can’t see a culture on its own terms. This is a shame.
You didn’t mention that the majority of sex tourists are Asian, or that the sex industry among local Thai men dwarfs that of foreigners.
Your equation of sex tourism with power misses the point too. The real power trip comes from Westerners who wish to impose their view of world on poorer, less powerful countries. Why don’t you return home and stop prostitution there before dumping on Thais?
And frankly, if you don’t know the difference between a gay tourist and a pedophile, you really shouldn’t be writing articles about the Thai sex industry.
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Hi Kurt,
I just wanted to respond to a few of your points.
Firstly, I do not agree that I am “imposing” my values on anybody- while I made it an issue that Thais view sex differently, many Thai people would be insulted to hear you say it is “part of the culture”, any more than burkas in Saudi. While things may be mixed with peoples’ cultures at times, there is no need to justify things which violate human rights, ie) forced prostitution, as “part of the culture”. Otherwise, one could say rape is part of our Western culture, since it certainly happens. All people might stand up for better human rights everywhere, and I am not saying my country is any better, just addressing the specific problem of Western-based sex touristm, and some of the impacts it has on Thais. Don’t worry, I’m not one of the “good little Western feminists” that is going to come in and “liberate” the Asian people, if you were for some reason, putting me in that category.
And I didn’t get pedophiles mixed up with sex tourists (gay), altough I could have expanded upon that issue a little more. I only intended to state that gay men are in fact exploited sometiems in the same way as women.
I realize that many Thai men go to brothels. I just wanted to elaborate a little more upon the Western compionent, because I am from the West.
Anyways, thanks for your points.
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Few line are for sure not enough for such an issue. One thing that comes to my mind is that, as you have said in your article, it it was a free choice we would have no rights to criticize how people choose to live their lives. Unfortunately, often it is not, and the people who practice this “profession” do not even get rich out of it….therefore it becomes pure exploitation, humiliation, privacy of one’s freedom and I could make a neverending list of horrible inhuman concepts related to this.
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I would just like to add everyone has a different opinion on sex tourism according to their sex, age, finances, circumstances etc. Many western guys treat the Asian girls very well and are seriously looking for wive’s girlfriends. They can get used by the Asian girls as well as the other way round. I’m pleased the comments have also been raised on female sex tourism - i’ve seen plenty of 50 year old women in the Caribbean/Indonesia etc huddled up with a 20 year old black boy. I’d also like to mention the thousands of 18 - 30 guys and girls who head out abroad on holiday mainly to get drunk and have sex with others. Is this also not a form of sex tourism, and is there really all that much difference!!!
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While I agree that prostitution is usually not a voluntary thing you have the opposite true as well. Here in Bali you have plenty of local boys and girls, whose dream it is to score a Westerner (man or woman) for status reason. They are not necessarily poor or at the brink of poverty. Local people have their own shops, surf schools or Warungs and still they sell their bodies to the (potential) sex tourist. Others see it as an easy way to make a living and don’t even want to think about other ways of making money.
I talked with many Locals here and they aren’t ashamed or feel pity about themselves or the ones doing so. Especially the so-called “Kuta Cowboys” who usually go with big fat Australian or European Mamas. For them it’s utter pleasure/convenience and some of them drive cars and have their own house all paid for by their “loved” ones, of whom they usually have more than one.
For sure they weren’t forced to do so - it was their own will and they enjoy the ride.
But it’s still prostitution, isn’t it?
Cheers from Bali,
Chris
http://www.nomad4ever.com
Life is what you make it!↵ -
I’m a big fan of pleasure myself, and hey, if one would like to harness their inner Roxanne, then I have no problem with it- not my concern or place to judge. I had intended for the article discussion to be more directed to the problem of forced prostitution, or prostitution where there is not any other well-paying work available, and the lying and deceit that occurs when people use the services of sex workers at the expense of their wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc., often endangering their lives with the STDs they sometimes bring home. Thanks for your perspectives.
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Emily, At last! a more intelligent and balanced article from a female about sex tourism in Asia. I don’t agree with all of your points but you have brought new insights to the debate.
In particular I agree with your assessment that for many men visiting Asia it’s not about the sex but restoration of ego or being able to feel like a man again.
In the West the FemoNazis dominate. I came from a senior corporate back ground and had to navigate the politically correct mind field on a daily basis and was very good at it.
You are also correct about the legacy of our Judo-Christian heritage and its repressive attitudes to sex and accompanying guilt.
I have written my own ideas on this subject in direct response to your article. I don’t expect you to agree with my article and you will probably disapprove of me entirely should you view the rest of my blog.
http://www.mensasiantravelexploits.com/sex-tourist/
Kurt, compared to the sensationalism and absolute dishonesty of most other articles on this topic Emily is to be commended on her honesty.
PS You are in India now. I love the story about Mahatma Gandhi who would take a 12 year old girl to bed each night and have her lay naked next to him. He told others he was testing his resolve…or maybe that excuse was just for Western consumption.
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Had a look at the website Ralph and it is indeed ınterestıng….however I feel compelled to start my own website about female adventures in Asia.
I am defınıtely not against sex….but yes….dıshonesty does make the book run hot. And that ıs the focus of my artıcle. Thanks for defendıng my posıtıon re The Kurt. Just heard too much BS my last several years ın Asıa and justıfıcatıon for everythıng. Sigh….ıt ıs tıme someone talked truth. People are gettıng the shaft ın thıs ındustry and just wanted to bring some light to it.
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I have also seen sex tourism up close and personal, and had a stab at it myself in the Philippines and Thailand. I didn’t go to these countries as a sex tourist, but as a tourist looking for a cheap holiday.
It’s hard to say no to these young women. Especially because they all look so happy and healthy. And you look at the poverty in these countries and hope you can help them out is some small way while enjoying your holiday. I say if a person wants to sell their body, let them do it.
In addition, Asian woman are much different from Western woman and a lot of men enjoy that. They are sick to death of being politically correct and unable to relax with a woman in the West. Many, many Asian women meet Western men in the sex industry and go on to live fulfilling lives. Not only in the sex industry but in everyday life among expats abroad.
However, to my knowledge I have never witnessed any forced prostitution. Any girl I was with was free to do whatever she wanted. There was no dirty old room where she had to stay and have quick sex with numerous customers. I know this exists to a large percentage and it saddens my deeply.
Women and men who are of the legal age of consent, and have a choice how to live their lives should be given the respect to do so. All of the women I met were free to say no, but they didn’t because they were bored and poor and wanted excitement and spending money or just companionship. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with that.
So what I am saying is this is not a one-dimensional issue, but a very complicated one. On one hand it is not a problem with people who have a free choice to do what they please. On the other, it is a grave injustice to trafficked people and underage people who are forced and exploited and then thrown out like so much garbabe when they are used up.
Anyone can have a point of view on the sex industry in Asia, but until you experience it first hand as I have, it’s hard to know how these people feel about their lives and their problems. One thing is for sure, if there were no sex tourists or people willing to pay for sex, there would be a lot of unhappy people in this world.
Sound like a naive conclusion. But it’s a fact.
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I think you’re right to state that sex tourism is at its core often about power and self-image, not about sex or prostitutiion per se.
I worked a lot in Eastern Europe in the 1980s/1990s, and it was interesting how often a rich Western investment banker would marry a Russian or Polish girl. (Never the other way around.) Because “They’re much more feminine than English girls,” I was once told - that is, they had no power, no money, and no work permit, and didn’t threaten the man’s self-image.
I saw the breakup of one of these relationships too. The man involved simply regarded his wife as disposable - “You can go right back to Russia, and don’t think you’re getting any money out of me.” (Yes, the actual words - they had *that* row in my office.)
No one would call that sex tourism, but actually in that guy’s mind there wasn’t very much difference between his marriage and sex tourism - he had bought something, and he had a right to refuse the goods if they proved sub-standard.
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Excuse the Turkish keyboard keys…
Paul, in no way would anyone be ‘helping’ the women of Thaliand, for example, by buying sex from them. If a man is interested in helping women, he may do so by understanding their value as people and not as commodities. Yes, it’s a complicated issıe but compliated further by self-serving justifications for destructive behavıour. Ä°f your willingness to help is genuine, why not just give them the money and forget getting something out of it?
And I hardly think that all Wstern women are policitcally-correct-police. Women everywhere are beginning to ask for some respect and are getting it accordingly, in varying degrees. Men are not the enemy, but can seek to be our partners. I am not demonizing men, only stating that power dynamics such as these are not serving anyone.
Andrea thanks for the enlıghtened response.
Emily
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Continuing from the idea above, I think it’s important to recognize that prostitution is an “artificial” relationship: a client buys an amount of time in order to have a relationship on their terms. In that sense, you indeed have “tourism” taking place - a sightseeing trip through shallow connections. Intimacy, with no strings attached; little significant investment into a “real” relationship. It’s almost, using a techie term, “virtual.”
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but this borrow’s the snowflake’s defense for taking part in the avalanche. The cost is that the prostitute (which describes role, not gender) is trapped in this artificial role. It’s similar to yet worse than a dead-end job, because at least dead-end jobs are recognized as part of the work force. Prostitution is stigmatized for its “unrealness” - prostitutes are seen as golddigging, damaged human beings with little prospects beyond their seeming willingness to be exploited. Whether it’s the role, or the conditions that create the role, that are responsible for creating prostitution is a chicken-or-egg argument. The crime is that prostitutes lose few prospects for choosing their future.
I’m certain that there are men (and women) who pay for prostitutes’ services and can see them as more than just “expendable.” There are also those who take the role of prostitute for a short time, for thrills or money, but are able to leave it behind to go on to something else. These circumstances cloud the issue, because they show that the harm of prostitution isn’t really about “money for sex.” (Moral elitists would disagree, but that’s only relevant in a context of religious, not social, salvation.)
Like poverty, addiction, no access to education, classism, racism, indoctrination or any other such limiting conventions, the crime is that people are robbed of their ability to express themselves in their lives. Prostitutes are made the “untouchables” of our culture (how strange that sounds…), the “shameful,” the “wicked,” the “non-human.”
It’s not the role itself, but those who force the role upon another that create prostitution.
One More Door
I once knew a man, fell in love with a whore
Saw something there no one cared to before
The faceless had stripped away all of her doors
But they found one together, and the one led to more.↵ -
I just came upon this post today and have appreciated the thoughts and debate in response to it. I rarely promote my writing on other sites, but since it relates directly to this topic I wanted to pass along that I’ve written a story based on my experiences in Bangkok’s red light districts which tries to explore the theme of brokenness and hope. If interested, you can find it in The Best Travel Writing 2008, or at http://www.besttravelwriting.com/btw-blog/great-stories/second-annual-solas-awards-winners/grand-prize-gold-winner-red-lights-and-a-rose/.
Thanks for the post, Emily.
Joel
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Joel,
It was your essay that prompted my response, and I should thank you for that.
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E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T points Daniel and Joel. I could simply never have put it better:)
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Wow — so someone has read the essay! Thanks for your kind comment, Daniel.
You too, Emily. I’ve just checked out more of both of your writings; wonderful stuff, which I’ll make a point to try to follow in the months ahead.
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Thanks for your article .. it was an interesting read.
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Speaking about the 18-30 group,would the “Spring Break” vacations
be considered “sex vacations ? After all,all they do is get drunk,
party,and have sex with people they’ll probably never see again.
I know of some female friends that say they acted like men(sexualy agressive)
while on spring break,and were in competition with other females trying to have as many sex partners as possible in a specified period of time.But I guess since there is no money changing hands they are only being “girls gone wild”
Go figure. Peace↵ -
Dear Emily,
I was really happy to go through your article as the more I see people taking interest in this issue I feel that change can be brought about in this sector. I have been working in this sector for some time and have made Simla as my tourist city for identifying the kind of Sex tourism happening here. It is important to understand the contextuality of sex tourism as it occurs accross the globe. This when regarded as a social problem has to take into consideration the social factors that perpetuate its existence and work out a method accordingly to approach the problem systematically.
If there is any way I can work with you do let me know.↵ -
Dear Emily,
I am a bit bored of reading about the Thai sex industry, based upon the experiences of an English teacher staying 1 year in the country. I suggest that you read The International Labour Organisation´s the Sex Sector from 1998. “It focuses on the commercial sex sector’s connections with the national economies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand as well as the international economy. Describes the organizational structures and relations within the commercial sex sector and illustrates how increasingly complex and significant the sector has become in these countries. In addition to the national case studies, which include the results of surveys of sex workers, comprises chapters on child prostitution and legislation and policies targeting the commercial sex industry. Examines also some historical and social factors behind the development of the sex sector.”
Best regards,
Mort↵ -
Joel,
It was your essay that prompted my response, and I should thank you for that.
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Echo…
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To whoever it was, Paul, that wrote the sex tourism was pretty much a good thing…yeah you pretty messed up. It’s the type of mentality that contributes to this problem.
I’m definitely no saint but at least I can recogonize there’s actually people (kids mind you) being exploited. It’s a really really sad story and the author hit some obviously good points.
Let’s reverse the situation, you being some 6 year-old toddler and forced to do unsaid things. It happens and it’s really sad.
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very nice article. making sex public and buying it for money is really a third rate job. but sex tourists who intend to have sex in another country could not be controlled unless the people of visiting country should have high morals.
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it's funny how you can note that christian values are imposed on sex in the west, yet completely ignore this point and conclude that all sex tourism is exploitation…?? you've obviously never spoken to someone who works in the industry, just sat on the sidelines and pointed your moral finger at everyone else, what makes you the judge of a culture you don't understand?? oh wait, you lived there for a year, right, so you know it all….
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The problem can only be dealt with by the government itself in countries like Thailand . No sex bars no gogo shows no sex tourist resorts like Pattaya or Phuket would certainly curb if not stop the amount of bald,
fat out of shape ugly western male or indeed female sex tourists comming to the country as there would be nothing for them to come for( unless ofcourse they want to look at the temples and the beautiful countryside). The cuban govt used that approach a few years ago when it became known that the country was seen as another sex tourist destination and imposed measures to stop it with a good level of success.However the reality is that the Thai govt will never stop it as it brings too much money into the country and and as such there will always be an endless stream of western inadequates looking for sex which they can't get in their own country↵ -
I visited Brasil years ago. Sex is there also a part of the national culture. On Copacobana was a club with many prostitutes, beautiful women. But they also did it for free, simply because they like sex. But this was not just typical for the prostitutes, all ladies loved making love. There is nothing wrong about that. Read for example a novel from Jorge Amado, one of the most famous Brasilian writers. Soon I will find out if Brasilian women are the best lovers in the world or the Thai women. I definitely do agree with Jonathan that many women from Western origing should take a look at their selves. If the women all over the world made love the same way the nice Brasilians do, the Thai and Brasilian women would not be so famous.
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Well its more to do with economics, there are some vile creatures who do prey on the weak and vulnerable in places like Asia. But you have a very maligned stereotype image of what a sex tourist is and you want to promote that. I think it must be hard for you as working as a teacher in somewhere like Thailand in itself attracts alot of sex tourists who become sexpats. I mean you dont go there for the money.
The vast majority of males travelling to a place like Thailand are looking for a good time, like they cant get at home, alot of them are also fit attractive males and not the fat balding Germans stereotype.
Alot of these guys fall in love with a girl they meet in a bar and when returning home become her sponsor sending her money to leave the bar. In fact some of these girls can typically being playing up to 5 guys like this. So its still a dog eat dog world whatever way you look at it.What about all the female sex tourists in the Caribbean 5% of which return HIV positive?
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Just a question: I am wondering why each time I mention the topic of "women's oppression", a widespread problem throughout the world, people feel the knee-jerk need to bring up the most minute examples of "male oppression". Just because I speak of "women's oppression" does not mean that I am denying that "male oppression" exists…in fact all people are "oppressed" in some ways and not in others- I am simply talking about the specific situation of women and how it is affected by inequity. I am not here on this planet to make anyone feel more comfortable about us "uppity women" and our "angry views" on women's rights. While I might have nightmares about the balding German sexpats with tacky T-shirts in size fat, I think that you are clinging as well, to some cliches, particularly as they concern feminism.
If you feel that the issue of female "johns" in the Carribbean is a massively widespread and serious problem and relates to the problem of "male oppression" generally , then you are free to write an article and convince me that this is truly a problem that needs fixing. I am not stopping you. It's just, that wasn't my article.
P.S. And in the state of rampant poverty that many people are in, I'm gonna buy the dime-store Camille Paglia about how sex for money in any context is really about anyone's empowerment.
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I don't know you at all. I am not you. I can probably say that you are neither a sex worker nor a sex buyer, and with this assumption I can definately say that you have no authority to write on the subject. ***** In my 20-something youth, I recieved money for sex. I was grateful that I could trade something I was good at, for something that would feed me. In my 40-something middle age, I have legally paid for sex. My body is my own. I can do this. ***** For you to stand on your imaginary high horse and tell me otherwise is blatantly hypocritical in an age where women have rightfully claimed control of their minds and bodies emotionally, sexually, and reproductively. Your attitude will only frustrate you and end badly as you continue to try and control what others safely and consensually do. You are part of a strange upsurge in moral superiority which will soon be extinct and join such dated practices as slavery, cultural genital mutilation, and even rape in history as we move towards more enlightened times.
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Just a thought here. Perhaps the government should step in and *gasp* legalize prostitution. That would shut both sides up. Think about it. Only those ladies who are truly into the profession will be allowed to work their trade. And having government intervention would *hopefully* cut off those illegal and under-aged sex workers.
The sex-workers in Singapore are legalized (some, not all) and they carry permits to be allowed to work. Holders of this permits must also receive periodical health screenings and are not allowed to work. The unfortunate viewpoint is it somehow reflects badly in that sense that the Government actually allow this profession, but hey, to each their own right.
But then again I'm not sure how feasible it would be in other places in South East Asia. In Jakarta for example I know for sure the cops just won't bother. Or the pimps would simply pass some money along and everybody will make a move on. I suspect the Thailand police would react the same way, and this is a problem. I don't know how Singapore does it (keep the corruption low) but it certainly helps their case that the island is very small… *shrugs*
Additional thoughts as well, in regards to some of the commenters above me who are giving the writer a hard time. I think the problem the writer wants to bring up and highlight is the child-prostitution and how the sex industry has become so lucrative that it promotes child kidnapping, slavery and the likes.
If you're consented to selling off your own body for sex, then thats your choice and prerogative.
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ty: Nikolas. You make some good points. I appreciate you reading my article and offering some balanced perspectives.
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Hmmmm…… What an inept analysis.
Point by point:
A. Trafficking is not really the issue in the Farang sex industry…. Pattaya etc. Economic imbalance is. A successful prostitute can earn simply astronomic sums compared to other options. If she turns round two johns for 2000 baht each that is already pretty much equalling the income her dad receives from working hard all month on the farm in Chaiyaphum or Sakhon Nakhon. Say she turns around ten a week…… Its simply huge money. That’s the incentive. There is trafficking in Thailand but you will see it in place like Mai Sai etc Not pattaya etc……. There is probably far more trafficking in the fishing industry (Men. Unpopular job. Dangerous job. Burmese and Khmers forcefully supplied) than the sex for money game.
B. You miss the point on the sex tourists. Their crime is not paying girls from poor families for sex. Their crime is wearing dirty singlets, football shorts and dark supermarkets socks with sandals. Utterley criminal. For that alone they should be shot. Sartorial terrorism.
C. This kind of lame backpacker/English teacher aspiring to be a writer kind of crap is just SO dreary. The internet grants license to all sorts.
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Dreary? I suppose that’s why you read it. Sorry to have bored you. Additional apologies for being an English teacher/backpacker. I suppose to qualify for writing articles about sex tourism, I’d need to have been a bonafide sex tourist to approach the topic with that fresh edge…a far more prestigious calling. Anyways, you sound like you know a lot about the issue.
About the only thing I agreed with in your hostile commentary, was your point about the dreaded dirty singlets. They are indeed unfathomable and unspeakable fashion crimes worthy of a grand mal flogging.
I do indeed recognize the issue of financial disparity in the whole equasion…which is part of the reason why I wrote the article. I guess my connecting point was that the johns aren’t exactly doing too badly for cash. One of the central questions was whether or not that harms anybody. Just askin’. Maybe any of your future comments could be directed to helping to explore that issue for us.
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I find it amazing, that even as subjects like forced prostitution and pedophilia are brought up, people are still able to convince themselves that this is a positive industry. While this may be true in a Western society where there are more options, are you not applying your own Western values that prostitution can be a choice? Yes, it can, but in some cultures it is not. The farang prostitution, while only a minority of the business, is a problem when the prostitutes are unwilling. And just because something is accepted as part of a culture, does not mean that it doesn’t violate human rights. Human rights do not have borders, and if these women, men, and transgendered want to participate in prostitution fine, but when they don’t, shouldn’t someone be there to stand up for them when they themselves have no agency?
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Well, I think most people here have the right intentions. But some of the language here worries me. I believe in equal rights. It would be foolish to think otherwise, There is and always will be a hard edge between the genders. You think not? Despite Emily’s obvious thoughtfulness, she displays predujice, too. The nightmare of the fat, balding middle-aged man who, somehow, shouldn’t be having sex. I am bald. I am out of shape and I am approaching middle-age. I am the nightmare, according to some of the female posts here. But I am human, too. I share the same healthy needs for affection and, frankly, sex. If I thought all women thought the same way as the above, I would be tempted to sleep with beautiful women abroad and pay for it. The forced exploitation of women and children is unacceptable, horrid. But when it comes to more ‘acceptable’ sex tourism, the reasons are deeper, more primal. It is about need and the falsity between these needs. Perhaps, some of these men go to these places so they don’t feel like a ‘nightmare’. And while this is unfortunate, it is also very human. Men can be pigs. Women can be too and the demonisation above of those who do not fit the beauty stereotype shows this. I posit it encourages men to look elsewhere. We all love beauty and this brings out a cruel side to us. We dehumanise each other and this is shown by the sex industry and, also, our behaviour outside of it. So where does this leave us? I think that older women who go to the Bahamas are probably looking for a lover in the romantic sense. They fool themselves willingly. The arguement that this is much rarer than male sex tourism doesn’t wash. It still exists. And yet, who is exploited? The young man and the ‘Jane’, equally. All I see there is fraility. And yet, the men who pay for sex abroad are monsters, ugly, disgusting and for some strange reason, German. (?) I’m sorry, but all I see there is frailty, too. I wish this topic could broaden out into an examination of gender relations. At least on the Western side of the problem, we could get a better understanding of motivation.
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Hell Steve. Congratulations on the most lucid, articulate, & insightful response.
I’ve just watched “Sex Hunters” on Channel 4 in the UK, about 50 y.o UK Female Sex Tourists in the Dominican Republic.They spent £000’s getting there, then left £45 “tips” for 2 weeks worth of services.Apparently, that’s still 2 weeks pay there, but it’s so tight. I think that’s just one night in Bangkok!
These guys clearly hated what they were doing, or rather who they were doing it with, & to see them literally abandoning their pride trying to coax a measly few £’s, from women was pretty demeaning.
It just shows the power relationship is exactly the same for female Johns & male pros as the reverse - except cheaper!
The articles author shows a strong empathetic streak, yet demonises the Johns, but not the pros, failing to recognise the inbuilt cultural prejudice we all carry.
As for female prostitute serial killers of males as commented, I’d argue that there are a wealth of men out there who have been approached while drunk by prostitutes, beaten up & robbed.- go to San Antonio in Ibiza in peak season & watch it happen for free! Men are too ashamed to report this.
However, I have friends who’ve taught in Thailand for 8 years,Another friend of mine joined them, went out with a girl, went back to her flat, & was surprised to find her boyfriend & friends (who apparently don’t need protecting). It transpired they were all rather into the local version of Meth. Upon his refusal to divulge his pin SHE decided to have him held down o she could iron his face.
You can still see it.
The problem with writing an article like this, is that it is imperative to actually talk to the girls working in the industry ( & not just the car crashes- the ones who are smiling & look full of beans) in order to talk authoritatively & with insight.
Otherwise it just smacks of, despite the best intentions, of a colonial superior of old talking patronisingly about the “jolly old natives”, & how, if they were more like us, they wouldn’t be following their smutty trade.
I’ve also just googled prostitutes & Germany, & apparently there are 400,000,with new amateur entrants daily, & prices collapsing due to the Crunch. it seems they have the same issues as the Thais - & the issues aren’t violent but economic.
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