Thailand's Prostitutes: Caught Between Passion And Compassion

[webfact]

Thailand's Prostitutes: Caught Between Passion And Compassion

Written by Sudhamahi Regunathan, Woman's feature Service

Pattaya Walking Street, file photo. Source: wikimedia

PATTAYA: -- The Thai government may be trying to cast away its image as a destination for sex tourism but the Walking Street of Pattaya is blissfully unaware of this. It continues to attract girls from all over Thailand, who use their bodily endowments to make their fortunes.

Pattaya, a gamey city south of Bangkok, recently made the world press again when photos were flashed around the world showing three suspected Iranian bombers cavorting with prostitutes in the resort city. They later managed to blow up their rented house in Bangkok and one of the three blew off his own legs trying to throw explosives at police. All are in custody, one in Malaysia.

As the sun sets and the neon lights [more...]

Full story: http://www.asiasenti...4281&Itemid=392

-- asiasentinel.com 2012-03-02

[draftvader]

"..a gamey city". In all my years in Thailand I have never made it to Pattaya. Does it smell mature/off?

[Orac]

I can't access the link - blocked by MICT on my Sophon Internet/CAT connection.

[moe666]

"..a gamey city". In all my years in Thailand I have never made it to Pattaya. Does it smell mature/off?

It actually very fun

[Curt1591]

I can't access the link - blocked by MICT on my Sophon Internet/CAT connection.

"The Thai government may be trying to cast away its image as a destination for sex tourism ..."

[BookMan]

What a boring article. But interesting to see a completely different take on bargirls in general than the usually we read on TV. Such as the quote below from the article from an ex bar girl.

"No life is good life, it just depends on what you make of it," she says in her broken English. Her husband left her two years after her second child was born. "In Thailand, women do no fear being alone, we know that is the reality. I think my husband had married me for the money I had," Julia observes stoically.

http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4281&Itemid=392

A man marrying a bargirl for money? not vice versa? very odd.

[givenall]

I am confused by the head lone and what article says. the headline should say:

Thailand's Prostitutes: Caught Between Euro and Dollar

[Canada]

What a boring article. But interesting to see a completely different take on bargirls in general than the usually we read on TV. Such as the quote below from the article from an ex bar girl.

"No life is good life, it just depends on what you make of it," she says in her broken English. Her husband left her two years after her second child was born. "In Thailand, women do no fear being alone, we know that is the reality. I think my husband had married me for the money I had," Julia observes stoically.

http://www.asiasenti...4281&Itemid=392

A man marrying a bargirl for money? not vice versa? very odd.

Not really sure what you find so boring.... actually it is a very interesting article.... if you care about the story(s). The bargirls...the mae chii's...and barely touched on; Thai society's continuing (mis) treatment of woman. It is a sad story that a Thai male can run around doing whoever he feels, leaving children in his wake, while the woman are left to fend for the (his) children, themselves and her parents who are now looking after the children. The Thai male seldom supports, and although their may be a legal requirement to do so, it is not enforced by Thai courts. This drives many woman as the article states into prostitution, as a 6000 baht a month job just won't do it.

People who look down on these "prostitutes" live in a fantasy world. There are many factors which motivate some people to do whatever it is that they do. Sometimes it is as simple as "survival", with the skills or assets that they currently possess. For those of us that do not have a need to consider "survival".....we are truly among the luckiest people on the planet, for most of the planet "survives".

[noitom]

The article in Asia Sentinel was not coherent writing. Another poster stated that they are caught between the Euro and the Dollar, and this seems to more accurately state the dilemma. It is a material seeking path that puts material value ahead of sense of self and character. The argument about "taking care of parents" doesn't hold up well when you discover how the girls use the money. It usually means what's left after the slices for bar owners, police, boyfriends, and shopping/personal care. Then taking care of parents often means buying a 52 inch flat panel TV to replace an older TV and/or a newer truck that replaces the older one. Or maybe a new motorcycle to replace the older one. Or paying off the local loan sharks for the indentured land that was used as collateral so the loan can be re originated to finance a "brother" in a new "venture."

The brother had convinced the father to pledge his land to get the original loan and now the father complains to the girls that he has no money for a new TV while he spends nights drinking with the son who finagled him out of his land. They watch Thai boxing on the new 52" flat panel TV, while the brother plots how he can get the father to complain to the girls that he has no money. Thai culture has little regard or respect for women other than as instruments of means either working legitimately or as prostitutes. It doesn't matter, the end always justifies the means.

[airconsult]

I can't access the link - blocked by MICT on my Sophon Internet/CAT connection.

Really? Works for me on a TOT DSL... Is MICT being selective now?

Cheers

[Reasonableman]

I can't access the link - blocked by MICT on my Sophon Internet/CAT connection.

No problem here.

[EyesWideOpen]

What a boring article. But interesting to see a completely different take on bargirls in general than the usually we read on TV. Such as the quote below from the article from an ex bar girl.

"No life is good life, it just depends on what you make of it," she says in her broken English. Her husband left her two years after her second child was born. "In Thailand, women do no fear being alone, we know that is the reality. I think my husband had married me for the money I had," Julia observes stoically.

http://www.asiasenti...4281&Itemid=392

A man marrying a bargirl for money? not vice versa? very odd.

Not at all. The article is referring to a Thai man marrying her, after she returns to the village with a boatload of money from working in the bar. So clearly the concept of money making you more attractive applies to women as well as men... :-) These Thai media articles are so poorly written it is truly amazing. It starts off following the headline, then morphs into discussing Thai nuns. This makes about as much sense as adding a som tom recipe at the end of the article.

[wombat]

"..a gamey city".

if your game

[Langsuan Man]

Same thing on Sophon in Pattaya

[bonobo]

I rather thought the article was incoherent as well. Was it about prostitutes or Mai Chiis? Either one would have been acceptable. I did learn something about Mai Chiis, but the focus of the article was all over the place.

[Canada]

must agree.... poor focus on behalf of the author. leaves many questions.... but interesting.

[phuketrichard]

I can't access the link - blocked by MICT on my Sophon Internet/CAT connection.

works fine here in phuket using triple B

[belg]

maybe pattaya can become the new Las Vegas of the orient? so those poor prostitutes can go work as card dealers and thus not needing to spread their germfull leggs to earn a buck for the mommy and daddy back home waiting for the easy money to arrive

[IAMHERE]

"..a gamey city". In all my years in Thailand I have never made it to Pattaya. Does it smell mature/off?

Smells like an open sewer all over town. I've been told it is because the sewers are open. The place is great after a rain though as long as you don't have to walk in any Soi's that are flooding. Wash your feet as soon as you get to the hotel.

[IAMHERE]

What a boring article. But interesting to see a completely different take on bargirls in general than the usually we read on TV. Such as the quote below from the article from an ex bar girl.

"No life is good life, it just depends on what you make of it," she says in her broken English. Her husband left her two years after her second child was born. "In Thailand, women do no fear being alone, we know that is the reality. I think my husband had married me for the money I had," Julia observes stoically.

http://www.asiasenti...4281&Itemid=392

A man marrying a bargirl for money? not vice versa? very odd.

Thai guy married her before she was a bar girl. She had money before being married, then had to work bars after she spent her money on the husband and he'd left her broke.

You are right, it is usually a girl marrying for money.

[Atley]

Regarding the link:

"Google Chrome could not load the webpage because w3_mict_go_th took too long to respond."

CAT

[Payboy]

Asia Sentinel is not a favourite of MICT because they write a few home-truths now and then.

[samsiam]

Caught between a rock and something hard..

[BigJohnnyBKK]

A man marrying a bargirl for money? not vice versa? very odd.

She was talking about a Thai men, not farang. Most of the women bonking farang for money (including our wives) have their Thai guy they're supporting (and bonking) on the side. Back home they'd be called pimps.

My ex-wife is now making a lot more money than me in the bar biz in Pattaya, and once in a while she sends me money to help out with the kids' school fees and such. I suppose that makes me a pimp now. . .

[Gone]

Can't access the link here either in Pattaya on TMN internet.

[airconsult]

Regarding the link:

"Google Chrome could not load the webpage because w3_mict_go_th took too long to respond."

CAT

O/T but interesting - looks like CAT's Intl gateway is diverting to MICT and TOT's is not (for this link). There are 7 Intl gateways from Thailand. CAT, TOT, True, TT&T, ADC, CSL and SBN.

Cheers

EDIT: 3BB uses TT&T, TMN =True?

Edited March 2, 2012 by airconsult

[hawker9000]

What a boring article. But interesting to see a completely different take on bargirls in general than the usually we read on TV. Such as the quote below from the article from an ex bar girl.

"No life is good life, it just depends on what you make of it," she says in her broken English. Her husband left her two years after her second child was born. "In Thailand, women do no fear being alone, we know that is the reality. I think my husband had married me for the money I had," Julia observes stoically.

http://www.asiasenti...4281&Itemid=392

A man marrying a bargirl for money? not vice versa? very odd.

Not really sure what you find so boring.... actually it is a very interesting article.... if you care about the story(s). The bargirls...the mae chii's...and barely touched on; Thai society's continuing (mis) treatment of woman. It is a sad story that a Thai male can run around doing whoever he feels, leaving children in his wake, while the woman are left to fend for the (his) children, themselves and her parents who are now looking after the children. The Thai male seldom supports, and although their may be a legal requirement to do so, it is not enforced by Thai courts. This drives many woman as the article states into prostitution, as a 6000 baht a month job just won't do it.

Here in the US, it's about the same. Men run around leaving children in their wake; women don't actually have to work in bars (or at all) though as they can collect their "barfine" from the welfare office. They still work on their backs, but at a MUCH higher rate per date... Most taxpayers are too stupid to understand the real dynamic. They think their tax money is actually "helping" somebody.

[merlen10002]

What a boring article. But interesting to see a completely different take on bargirls in general than the usually we read on TV. Such as the quote below from the article from an ex bar girl.

"No life is good life, it just depends on what you make of it," she says in her broken English. Her husband left her two years after her second child was born. "In Thailand, women do no fear being alone, we know that is the reality. I think my husband had married me for the money I had," Julia observes stoically.

http://www.asiasenti...4281&Itemid=392

A man marrying a bargirl for money? not vice versa? very odd.

Not at all. The article is referring to a Thai man marrying her, after she returns to the village with a boatload of money from working in the bar. So clearly the concept of money making you more attractive applies to women as well as men... :-) These Thai media articles are so poorly written it is truly amazing. It starts off following the headline, then morphs into discussing Thai nuns. This makes about as much sense as adding a som tom recipe at the end of the article.

I would think that very few if any ladiesbar go back to the village with boatloads of money,

[stoneyboy]

What a boring article. But interesting to see a completely different take on bargirls in general than the usually we read on TV. Such as the quote below from the article from an ex bar girl.

"No life is good life, it just depends on what you make of it," she says in her broken English. Her husband left her two years after her second child was born. "In Thailand, women do no fear being alone, we know that is the reality. I think my husband had married me for the money I had," Julia observes stoically.

http://www.asiasenti...4281&Itemid=392

A man marrying a bargirl for money? not vice versa? very odd.

Not really sure what you find so boring.... actually it is a very interesting article.... if you care about the story(s). The bargirls...the mae chii's...and barely touched on; Thai society's continuing (mis) treatment of woman. It is a sad story that a Thai male can run around doing whoever he feels, leaving children in his wake, while the woman are left to fend for the (his) children, themselves and her parents who are now looking after the children. The Thai male seldom supports, and although their may be a legal requirement to do so, it is not enforced by Thai courts. This drives many woman as the article states into prostitution, as a 6000 baht a month job just won't do it.

Here in the US, it's about the same. Men run around leaving children in their wake; women don't actually have to work in bars (or at all) though as they can collect their "barfine" from the welfare office. They still work on their backs, but at a MUCH higher rate per date... Most taxpayers are too stupid to understand the real dynamic. They think their tax money is actually "helping" somebody.

And the same can be said for the UK,the number of young single often teen mothers is baffling,but it's fine for them as they get a council flat and weekly cash handouts,it sadly gives many the attitude that they don't need to work,I wonder how things would be back home if the state never kept all these people.

[Sayonarax]

A man marrying a bargirl for money? not vice versa? very odd.

She was talking about a Thai men, not farang. Most of the women bonking farang for money (including our wives) have their Thai guy they're supporting (and bonking) on the side. Back home they'd be called pimps.

My ex-wife is now making a lot more money than me in the bar biz in Pattaya, and once in a while she sends me money to help out with the kids' school fees and such. I suppose that makes me a pimp now. . .

That just makes you sad.