How common is cohabitation?

[topswijaya]

Dear all,

 

How common is cohabitation between a Thai and a foreigner?

Thanks

[Upnotover]

Very rare.

[topswijaya]

Why is it rare?

[Maha Sarakham]

Traditional Thai culture dictates that a woman shouldn't live with a man until married, granted its a bit old fashioned, but some still abide by it.

 

Additionally, it's just not common, it's a different cultural perspective entirely.  Housing in Thailand isn't as unaffordable or out-of-reach in Thailand as it is in the West.  A woman might live with her family, boyfriend, in a dorm if studying, or with a same gender roommate until they have the funds to buy their own condo, but anything outside of that is very rare as Upnotover suggested above. 

 

Really depends on the woman, her situation, and her family to be honest.  But in most instances I wouldn't count on it.

[Kwasaki]

20 minutes ago, topswijaya said:

How common is cohabitation between a Thai and a foreigner?

Thanks

Same as western countries.

Common amongst Thais and common with foriegners and Thai women.

Even legally married foriegn men have girlfriends or Mia noi's.

[Denim]

I live with a Thai

 

A Gerbil I rescued from an animal shelter.

 

Its not all plain sailing but if you can adapt to the culture it can work.

 

Best advice I can give is never give salted nuts to them. They get hyper. Fresh veg and fruit and you will both both be happy.

[Lorry]

33 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Very rare.

Ts, ts, ts.... OP is a naive Newbie, how dare you make fun of him! 

He might believe you! 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, topswijaya said:

How common is cohabitation between a Thai and a foreigner?

Can we translate this to: How many farang guys live unmarried together with their Thai girlfriend?

If that is the question, then the answer is: many.

[Mac Mickmanus]

2 hours ago, topswijaya said:

How common is cohabitation between a Thai and a foreigner?

Thanks

Happens quite frequently , the Woman goes and visits one night and just never leaves and ends up living there cohabitating 

[BritManToo]

8 hours ago, topswijaya said:

How common is cohabitation between a Thai and a foreigner?

As common as a 1,000bht note.

Edited November 8, 2022 by BritManToo

[Lacessit]

IMO there are more Thais in defacto relationships with foreigners than there are married to one.

Foreigners that have been burned in Western family courts are unlikely to want to have a repeat in Thailand, even if the division of property here is on a more equitable basis.

[JimHuaHin]

8 hours ago, Maha Sarakham said:

Traditional Thai culture dictates that a woman shouldn't live with a man until married, granted its a bit old fashioned, but some still abide by it.

 

Additionally, it's just not common, it's a different cultural perspective entirely.  Housing in Thailand isn't as unaffordable or out-of-reach in Thailand as it is in the West.  A woman might live with her family, boyfriend, in a dorm if studying, or with a same gender roommate until they have the funds to buy their own condo, but anything outside of that is very rare as Upnotover suggested above. 

 

Really depends on the woman, her situation, and her family to be honest.  But in most instances I wouldn't count on it.

Can you please define the term/phrase "Traditional Thai culture"?

 

Thailand only came into existance after the 1932 revolution.

 

Tai people (note the spelling), only appeared in what is now Thailand about 1,000 years ago, emigrating from South West China.

 

What today is called "Thai culture" is heavily influenced  by the older Khmer and Mon empires/cultures.

 

For what it is worth, from my experience, most lower and lower middle class Thai couples live togther and have not been formally married; while middle and upper class Thais (especially those with university education) will have a (big) formal wedding ceremony as a show of "status" and "face".

 

On the other hand, in Thai-foreign relationships, Thai females maybe under pressure to formally get married, just in case the foreign male dies "in testate", ie without a formal will, as under Thai law de facto or cohabitation relationships are not recognised, and thus the female partner is not entitled to any of her departed partner's estate.

 

 

 

 

 

[malt25]

8 hours ago, topswijaya said:

Why is it rare?

Not cooked long enough.

[swm59nj]

It depends on each individual’s beliefs and situations. Can’t compare one person to another. 

[jaywalker2]

Common among the commoners but not among the hi so. Among the lower classes just as common as premartial sex probably.

[kingstonkid]

Maybe I am naive but I think there is a difference between co habitation and shacking up.

 

It's definitely rare for a Thai and foreigner to share an apartment or house To But shacking up is not that rare. 

[Gaccha]

I'll answer in one sentence:

 

In a country with poor mental healthcare, with the highest levels of genital attack by women in the World, and with a culture that teaches women via Channel 7 dramas that acting hysterical is appropriate behaviour, you should never give your apartment keys to any woman unless you are prepared to abandon that apartment in a night-escape wearing only your undies. 

Edited November 9, 2022 by Gaccha
Spelling

[Gaccha]

1 hour ago, JimHuaHin said:

Can you please define the term/phrase "Traditional Thai culture"?

Sure.

 

We are referring to the fabricated culture created in the 1950s, by the political elite in Bangkok, to "civilize" Thailand in the eyes of the West.

 

I hope that helps. 

[1FinickyOne]

It's called having a live-in maid

[Onerak]

10 hours ago, Maha Sarakham said:

Traditional Thai culture dictates that a woman shouldn't live with a man until married,

I think 90% Thai women live with men and even with their children. Even the educated college graduates and both persons working. I knew a Thai engineer who had a child and living with his GF and GF was also working a decent job. I asked him why not marry? He says expensive and he will marry when saved up enough. I think there is not much advantage like tax savings etc. 

I don't live with my GF and we have a child together and I know her for 16 years. And our daughter is 15 years. The reason I did not marry her is there is no benefits for me or for her unless I bring her to the USA. Though her family in the SiSaket thinks we were married. 

Edited November 9, 2022 by Onerak

[Expat68]

2 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Can you please define the term/phrase "Traditional Thai culture"?

 

Thailand only came into existance after the 1932 revolution.

 

Tai people (note the spelling), only appeared in what is now Thailand about 1,000 years ago, emigrating from South West China.

 

What today is called "Thai culture" is heavily influenced  by the older Khmer and Mon empires/cultures.

 

For what it is worth, from my experience, most lower and lower middle class Thai couples live togther and have not been formally married; while middle and upper class Thais (especially those with university education) will have a (big) formal wedding ceremony as a show of "status" and "face".

 

On the other hand, in Thai-foreign relationships, Thai females maybe under pressure to formally get married, just in case the foreign male dies "in testate", ie without a formal will, as under Thai law de facto or cohabitation relationships are not recognised, and thus the female partner is not entitled to any of her departed partner's estate.

 

 

 

 

 

A village wedding would make all people happy (not binding) family/relatves

[pgrahmm]

Based on the definition, it's extremely common..... I'm hard pressed to think of any couples I know that didn't.....Including myself....

 

Most ended up married - others bailed out, (both ways), during the test drive.....

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, Gaccha said:

I'll answer in one sentence:

 

In a country with poor mental healthcare, with the highest levels of genital attack by women in the World, and with a culture that teaches women via Channel 7 dramas that acting hysterical is appropriate behaviour, you should never give your apartment keys to any woman unless you are prepared to abandon that apartment in a night-escape wearing only your undies. 

You only missed one comma, congratulations.

[Kalasin Jo]

Interesting question. First I think we have to define marriage as if not married when living together whether Thai/Thai or Foreigner/ Thai it is cohabitation.

In Thailand you can be married in a Buddhist ceremony and most Thais certainly set alot of store by this and spend vasts sums of money on lavish betrothal and the marriage  celebration itself plus probably the sin sot, the pre nuptially negotiated dowry paid by the groom to his betrothed's family. Guests at the wedding give money, sometimes very large sums, to the bride and groom. But either party can walk away from this at any time and often do even if children are involved. It has no legal standing in Thai law courts. A Thai would not consider this cohabitation. They are married in the eyes of the Buddha. For the foreigner? Probably only as long as all is sweet knowing they can walk away. As a foreigner I'd say this is defacto cohabitation.

 

There is then the State civil ceremony and registration of the marriage at an Ampur. It does not require a grand and expensive ceremony, just 2 witnesses and for the foreigner perhaps a translator. Pay the fee to the Registrar. It takes, about 15 minutes. This is a legal marriage legally recognised in Thailand and many other countries, although in other countries the marriage certificate and perhaps also the registration document will have to be translated from Thai and legalised by MoFA and then the foreigner's Embassy. Legal recognition is needed for many things, including marriage visas here for the foreigner and in other countries for the Thai. Unless there is no dispute between the parties over custody of children,  money, maintenance and property divorce in a Thai registered marriage requires a reference to the Thai courts.

[Sparktrader]

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

As common as a 1,000bht note.

So it lasts for 12 hours

[Sparktrader]

12 hours ago, topswijaya said:

Why is it rare?

He is joking. Adults live together. Its 2022 not 1962.

[Sparktrader]

2 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

It's called having a live-in maid

Does your maid cut your toe nails and have sex with you?

[Kalasin Jo]

25 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You only missed one comma, congratulations.

Where would that go? The use of bold type for once seems appropriate and correct too ????

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

It's definitely rare for a Thai and foreigner to share an apartment or house

Oh, yeah, hardly ever heard of!

[d4dang]

my temporary gf moved in with me and it was good until she left, and her relatives stayed