'We don't know if we'll survive': Thailand sex workers left struggling as COVID-19 lockdown drags on

[Gottfrid]

At first the opportunities to do same work online and make even more money than before is enormous. Second, what is the problem in changing profession? People have been standing out of work in many places before, and just managed the situation by changing their lives. Don´t know if we survive, BAH? Then just sit inactive, feel sad for yourself and wait for the last breath, then.

[ChipButty]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Just in case someone asks you: Drinking and getting drunk is part of that job, and lots of girls like it. In some bars they serve(d) tequila shots for free for the girls at the beginning of the night to bring them into the right mood. And its seems the girls loved it.

I think that was the attraction as the saying goes, you can drag a girl out of the bar but you cannot drag the bar out of the girl

[cyril sneer]

most of the girls i've encountered spend the money on iphones, gold and lottery tickets, rather than save/send money home 

 

they're probably depressed because they can't buy these items anymore

[fusion58]

52 minutes ago, Dukeleto said:

But but but I thought the government said there were no such thing as sex workers!

It's true. Thailand is the most wholesome country in the world. The proof is the fact that they ban Internet porn sites. ????

[Gold Star]

As walking street gets demolished, and transformed into something else, Soi Buakhao and other areas will grow. It’s just a temporary setback. The girls and new girls will be back once restrictions are over, but the price gouging at the larger clubs will be less due to competition and lower rents paid as was on walking street. The big reset. 

[NanaSomchai]

38 minutes ago, tonray said:

Very often circumstances, born into poverty, being responsible for elderly parents and grandparents, don't lend themselves to choosing a different career path as easily as you make it sound. Thailand is not a place where opportunity abounds for those on the lower end of the socio economic scale. I wish there was opportunity for education and meaningful careers for these ladies but reality sometimes doesn't match hopes.

Complete rubbish, what you're referring to was true twenty years ago but it is no longer current.

 

It all comes down to education.

 

In my wife's village there are two houses from the same family right next to each other.

 

In one family the parents have bought all of their three kids some cheap Android smartphones, installed a WiFi router and let their kids staring at their smartphones nearly 24/7 so they don't have to teach them anything or take care of their kids; let alone educate them or teach them the basics manners on how to behave in society.

 

As a result; the kids grades are bad, their attitude are terrible, they consider their smartphones to be their best friends, they never leave the house anymore (plugged to the mains and in range of the WiFi router) they barely socialize with anyone anymore in the village.

 

Then in contrast; the other side of the family in the next house with 3 kids as well has in-house rules of "1 hour of smartphone per day and educational content only", these kids are going places; they spend a lot of time reading books both online and actual books, the old paper fashioned way; they have improved their school grades and now are a year in advance and about to skip a class.

 

Basically what I'm trying to say here is that it ALL comes down to education.

 

I have personally seen and met impoverished Thai families with both parents Father and Mother being quite happy sending their daughters to work in the adult industry in Bangkok or wherever knowing full well what it entailed and what their activities would be.

 

Once you have lived there for years and after having seen, heard and witnessed so much, you lose any pity for most of these families; they know exactly what they're doing, how they're doing it and why they are doing it the way they are.

 

I don't feel sorry for them anymore; ultimately YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

 

We are in the 2020's, the sex industry from places like Pattaya, Phuket, Patong, etc have been booming since the mid 80's, they all had 40 years to improve, change, evolve, grow out of the sex trade industry, reinvent themselves and so forth; what have they been doing since? Absolutely NOTHING.

 

Nothing will ever change in Thailand due to greed+lazyness+Buddhist mentality and should any change occur, it will take another 50 years for it to happen, neither you or I will be here to see any of the presumable changes.

 

As long as Fathers up in Issan will keep putting credits/loans/mortgages on the very little they have (usually land) so they can buy on credit/finance that new flashy Toyota Hilux 4x4 sub-SUV to brag/boast around in the village blasting lame folklore Thai music all day around instead of spending that money towards educating their kids sending them to a proper school in the nearest medium sized town then sending their kids to University; NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE.

 

I'm done with being sorry for these Thai families, I'm done with being sorry for these Thai bar girls who have DELIBERATELY CHOSEN this career path instead of putting just a little effort in improving their lives.

Edited August 16, 2021 by NanaSomchai

[OneMoreFarang]

4 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I think that was the attraction as the saying goes, you can drag a girl out of the bar but you cannot drag the bar out of the girl

I agree, and a lot more than that. They drink and smoke and dance and are loud and do all those things that good girls are not supposed to do. They have FUN. 

And it's not only bar girls. When "normal" Thai people of any age look for a new job what is most important? That they are not alone and have coworkers and enjoy their time in the office or wherever they work. Working alone must be one of the worst environments for many Thais.

[tonray]

2 minutes ago, NanaSomchai said:

I'm done with being sorry for these Thai families, I'm done with being sorry for these Thai bar girls

I feel more sorry for you at the moment.

[OneMoreFarang]

3 minutes ago, Gold Star said:

As walking street gets demolished, and transformed into something else, Soi Buakhao and other areas will grow. It’s just a temporary setback. The girls and new girls will be back once restrictions are over, but the price gouging at the larger clubs will be less due to competition and lower rents paid as was on walking street. The big reset. 

I agree with the first part but not the second.

What do many Thai business if there are not enough customers and they don't make much money? They increase the prices to make more money - at least that is their idea. TiT

[NanaSomchai]

2 minutes ago, tonray said:

I feel more sorry for you at the moment.

Nice way to avoid and deflect the contents of the post instead of adressing it properly, personal attacks are not a sign of intelligence.

 

I think I'm done with you.

[Taboo2]

Karma is a bitch.....remember all those lonely souls they ripped off?  Well, sooner or later Karma was coming to get you....555555

[Taboo2]

6 hours ago, A1Str8 said:

I don't see the problem. Everything is moving online anyway. 

Including prostitution. Just get the clients online. More money in your pockets. Less hassle. Improved schedule. 

Webcam with the suckers overseas. Have onlyfans. If these ex bar girls have some brains soon enough they will start making so much money they will giggle at their old workplace and salary. 

They are mostly sex addicts....only fans will only last so long, but those babes are "damaged" for live and need sex for approbation.  

[RocketDog]

49 minutes ago, NanaSomchai said:

One could argue that if they REALLY had some brains, they would have chosen a different career path to begin with. But that's just me.

Easy to say, easy to judge.

 

Education and brains are two different things. Even people with brains often have no opportunity or funds for education.

[dlclark97]

2 hours ago, sezze said:

Most Thais only think today , and if they studied a littlebit maybe tomorrow also , but never 5 or 10y infront.

The attitude toward saving for the future here seems to be 'What if I die tomorrow?' when it should be 'What if I do not die tomorrow?'.

[RocketDog]

Some of us won the genetic lottery, some of us didn't.

Pulling yourself up by your boot straps is more difficult than it sounds when you start out life deep in a hole.

[NanaSomchai]

8 minutes ago, Taboo2 said:

They are mostly sex addicts....only fans will only last so long, but those babes are "damaged" for live and need sex for approbation.  

And sex is what we're paying them for and it is what we're getting. Nothing else.

 

Listening to them, falling in for their scams, falling in "love" with them, being infatuated with any of them, being introduced to their families or children they have from a previous (Thai) husband, buying them land, building them a house or a flashy new car, all these things are a dire mistake.

 

It always end the same way: lots of tears and a very empty wallet/bank account.

 

Pay them for sex, have a good time and move on. Most of these girls are sex addicts, alcohol addicts, have mental issues and are "damaged" beyond repair anyway.

[Deli]

I offered to one a regular job with 6 days work a week for a salary of more than THB 20k a month. She didn't want to work every day and abandon he phone for hours. She went to Dubai instead, working is a Club...nuff said.

[ChipButty]

5 minutes ago, NanaSomchai said:

And sex is what we're paying them for and it is what we're getting. Nothing else.

 

Listening to them, falling in for their scams, falling in "love" with them, being infatuated with any of them, being introduced to their families or children they have from a previous (Thai) husband, buying them land, building them a house or a flashy new car, all these things are a dire mistake.

 

It always end the same way: lots of tears and a very empty wallet/bank account.

 

Pay them for sex, have a good time and move on. Most of these girls are sex addicts, alcohol addicts, have mental issues and are "damaged" beyond repair anyway.

Gambling addicts 

[NanaSomchai]

Just now, Deli said:

I offered to one a regular job with 6 days work a week for a salary of more than THB 20k a month. She didn't want to work every day and abandon he phone for hours. She went to Dubai instead, working is a Club...nuff said.

Of course. They make so much money once they have a few sponsors, you wouldn't believe it and I'm not even talking about the gifts they get (and resale immediately), gold, rings, smartphones, etc...

 

It's a vicious endless circle. Don't fall for it, don't feel sorry for them. EVER.

[NanaSomchai]

Just now, ChipButty said:

Gambling addicts 

That as well. Indeed.

[Dart12]

Article should be about ALL industries and businesses under the tycoon level are being shredded and destroyed by useless lockdowns

[dogfish180]

47 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Im sure lots of these bar girls would do well in 7/11 given their language skills and powers of negotiations but the requirements from 7/11  for a shop assistant is set to high for a bar girl, most of them

Given that probably 30% of the 7/11's in Pattaya have also shut down, not much opportunity there either!

[Darkside Gray]

6 hours ago, A1Str8 said:

I don't see the problem. Everything is moving online anyway. 

Including prostitution. Just get the clients online. More money in your pockets. Less hassle. Improved schedule. 

Webcam with the suckers overseas. Have onlyfans. If these ex bar girls have some brains soon enough they will start making so much money they will giggle at their old workplace and salary. 

Not all the sex workers own computers or phones have all been sold off to survive.

[brianthainess]

6 minutes ago, Deli said:

I offered to one a regular job with 6 days work a week for a salary of more than THB 20k a month. She didn't want to work every day and abandon he phone for hours. She went to Dubai instead, working is a Club...nuff said.

I have just heard of a group of 10 girls who flew out to Dubai Last week on 3mth saleswomen visas. Ehm . Not vaccinated ! All paid for by an agent. In my opinion they will return worse off. Desperate Fools.

[brianthainess]

2 minutes ago, dogfish180 said:

Given that probably 30% of the 7/11's in Pattaya have also shut down, not much opportunity there either!

And other Tourist destinations all over Thailand.

[gk10012001]

hundreds of thousands of girls with minimal education, no particular job or technical skills.  Not many outlets left for them

[gk10012001]

29 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

Some of us won the genetic lottery, some of us didn't.

Pulling yourself up by your boot straps is more difficult than it sounds when you start out life deep in a hole.

I would add not just the genetic lottery, but a decent environment.  Maybe a stable home, good educational neighborhood and opportunity, some good friends or associates around, etc.

[brianthainess]

I've known a few in the past getting money from sponsors every month, but they preferred to stay in the bar partying with their friends every night and new customers, rather than go home to Mum and take care of their own kids.

[MrJ2U]

That's a big portion of Thailand's economy even though they deny it.

 

The girls spread that money throughout Thailand by sending money home and buying locally.

 

Huge domino effect.

[mancub]

As Greta Thonberg would say " You've stolen my future "  

Seriously though, Walking st etc are only "tip of the iceberg" when it come to selling sex here, Most of the girls that migrate to tourist areas cut their teeth in a local Issarn karaoke bar or similar.