Why do some people keep saying Thailand is a very conservative country when it comes to skimpy outfits ?

[Chanthea]

I find it highly surprising when some people keep saying Thai women dress very conservatively and almost never wear skimpy outfits. I often see Thai women wearing skimpy outfits that are similar to western women nowadays. I mean plenty of Thai girls wear tiny booty shorts that barely cover anything.  And to honest, younger Thai women dont exactly dress much conservatively than western women nowadays at least in big cities such as Bangkok, Pattaya, etc.

 

I get the feeling some people simply get Thailand mixed up with other ASEAN countries like Indonesia, which is a lot more conservative overall, because of its main religion. I agree Thailand used to very conservative in the past but things have changed a lot over the last 10-15years, and so has the culture in terms of how thai women dress.  Younger Thai women nowadays dont necessarily adhere to rules of modesty unless they visit places like temples. As I mentioned, i have seen plenty  of thai women wearing tiny booty shorts that expose their buttcheeks.

[scubascuba3]

Thai women won't leave the house braless, not even if their life depended on it

[Dmaxdan]

Around my way, many of the younger females do sometimes wear short shorts but the tops they wear are normally very  conservative. Not over tight and definitely no midriff showing.

[riclag]

I ask you Is a beach sarong for wearing to and from the beach supposed to be worn while playing in the sand, kicking water up upon the shore and taking pics ?

modesty still lives at the tha laeh !

[OneMoreFarang]

Was that your observation on your first day in Thailand?

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Was that your observation on your first day in Thailand?

Depends if he’s on Soi 6 in Pattaya or visiting temples !!!.... 

[riclag]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Thai women won't leave the house braless, not even if their life depended on it

I was at a restaurant/bar the other night , its quite comical at times to see the waitresses  covering their

breast line when serving food and drinks !

There was one young lady that walked around with her hand positioned at the breast line practically the whole night while wearing a off the shoulder top.

It must’ve been very uncomfortable for her to wear this and act modest at the same time!

 

[OneMoreFarang]

34 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Depends if he’s on Soi 6 in Pattaya or visiting temples !!!.... 

she

[In the jungle]

3 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Around my way, many of the younger females do sometimes wear short shorts but the tops they wear are normally very  conservative. Not over tight and definitely no midriff showing.

I take it you have not been to Bangkok recently.

 

Midriffs are having a bit of a moment there right now.

[zzaa09]

4 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Thai women won't leave the house braless, not even if their life depended on it

Never witnessed the local girls at the morning markets and numerous other instances, have ya?

Much more commonplace [braless] than not. 

 

Guess that might depend on one's general exposure and experience. 

Blanket statements based on personal limitations and the expected stereotypes are to be expected.

[Adumbration]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Was that your observation on your first day in Thailand?

Latest paid poster.  At least this one is supposed to be female.

[champers]

18 minutes ago, Adumbration said:

Latest paid poster.  At least this one is supposed to be female.

Maybe she could post a pic of herself -  scantily dressed of course, in line with topic she started.

[Stevemercer]

Old woman often don't wear bras especially when pottering around the house or garden.

 

In the non-tourist areas (and outside trendy Bangkok) women tend to dress conservatively, but there are always exceptions of course.

 

What I find a bit disconcerting is that Thai women (including teenagers) will often parade around the house in just a towel, or loose night-dress, even when a male non-relative (such as myself) is present. They don't do it to be provocative, they are just acting normally and would be horrified if you took it as a 'come on'.

[thaibeachlovers]

15 hours ago, Chanthea said:

I mean plenty of Thai girls wear tiny booty shorts that barely cover anything. 

The conservatism is related to their upper body, not their legs. Though it seems to have changed, shoulders always had to be covered, as with bellies. Crop tops were a no no.

 

Lots of things have changed though. By the time I left LOS, girls seemed to have stopped holding hands, which used to be common, and the real Thai smile pretty much vanished etc.

[thaibeachlovers]

10 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Never witnessed the local girls at the morning markets and numerous other instances, have ya?

Much more commonplace [braless] than not. 

 

Guess that might depend on one's general exposure and experience. 

Blanket statements based on personal limitations and the expected stereotypes are to be expected.

No idea where you live, but bras were always in evidence in the places I lived. Why else would shaped bras be so common in a country of small breasted women?

[Dogsredrocket]

Thai women do dress conservatively. The women you are referring to are either other Asian tourists or bar girl trash.

[Expat68]

Maybe you are getting confused with Pattaya, Phuket (tourist areas) and normal Thai towns and Villages, even the ladies who work in tourist areas of Thailand dress down when they go home to see their families 

[Tarteso]

16 hours ago, Chanthea said:

i have seen plenty  of thai women wearing tiny booty shorts that expose their buttcheeks.

OMG ????

[Red Forever]

47 minutes ago, Dogsredrocket said:

Thai women do dress conservatively. The women you are referring to are either other Asian tourists or bar girl trash.

"Bar girl trash"?

Classy!

[flexomike]

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Depends if he’s on Soi 6 in Pattaya or visiting temples !!!.... 

so she is a he - 555

 

[spidermike007]

They are certainly modest at the beach. Many swim fully clothed. What a bizarre sight. 

[KhunLA]

Only the most ignorant believe that.  I was told that, and a stroll down Bangla road or first Songkran countered that idea.

 

People are the same, worldwide.

[Peterphuket]

I've never seen a woman in a bathing suit in the 25 years that I've lived here.

 

Now you again.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

They are certainly modest at the beach. Many swim fully clothed. What a bizarre sight. 

Perhaps that is more to reduce exposure to the sun?

 

Some of the clothed but clinging outfits on various Siamese Venuses emerging from the waves leave little to the imagination - corr lovely!

 

On which note, off to make a pot of tea...

[wwest5829]

I fondly recall my early visits to Pattaya. I always had "Chin" as my gf for the visits. Yep, a cute bargirl but ... when her Mother came for a visit to take Chin's young Daughter to the sea ... Ching was fully clothed in jeans and a dress to go into the sea. Traditional Isaan Thai culture reflected. I did a lot of reading about Thai society, history, politics, culture so the dichotomy observations did not come as a surprise. As a student of history, it had me reflecting on my home country's seeming dichotomies.

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Peterphuket said:

I've never seen a woman in a bathing suit in the 25 years that I've lived here.

One can only assume you are visually impaired, or never leave the house.

Years ago my wife went swimming a great deal and we went to many pools around the area. They were always full of women in bathing suits, more so than bikinis, playing with kids in the pool.

The beach is a different scenario altogether, too many strangers.

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

They are certainly modest at the beach. Many swim fully clothed. What a bizarre sight. 

I think that is more to avoid the sun, and looking like a outdoor laborer.  Same when it's lovely outside, or headed to high temps 30C+ and they have a light jacket on.

[dingdongrb]

16 hours ago, riclag said:

I was at a restaurant/bar the other night , its quite comical at times to see the waitresses  covering their

breast line when serving food and drinks !

There was one young lady that walked around with her hand positioned at the breast line practically the whole night while wearing a off the shoulder top.

It must’ve been very uncomfortable for her to wear this and act modest at the same time!

 

I was at a restaurant a few months ago and there was a Thai customer who was in her early 30s eating with her family (appeared o be parents and children) She was wearing what I will call very tight and revealing yoga pants. 

 

I found it difficult not to stare because I swear she was smuggling a yo-yo in those pants!

 

[swm59nj]

I have lived in Bangkok almost three years. I have never seen women walking around streets , malls , etc.,  with ultra revealing clothing.  Some wearing gym clothes, short skirt.  But not with their butt cheeks hanging out. And the so called non conservative stereotype clothes were fashionable.  Except maybe if they were freelancers. 
If a person wants ongoing ultra conservative  dressed women.  There are plenty of Muslim countries to go to.  

 

[Dogsredrocket]

4 hours ago, Red Forever said:

"Bar girl trash"?

Classy!

That is exactly what they are. 

 

Sounds like we have found a John everyone 555