Why do they stretch their necks?

[fabianfred]

[Deke]

I think that they don't strictly stretch their necks, the weight of the rings lowers their collar bones. No reason other than local culture, I guess.

[bealus]

I think that they don't strictly stretch their necks, the weight of the rings lowers their collar bones. No reason other than local culture, I guess.

+1

[fasteddie]

Mainly for tourism these days I think.

[schondie]

Mainly for tourism these days I think.

Correct. In the past only girls born on certain days of the week would wear rings. Nowadays there's the financial aspect to it. When I lived up there the Longnecks were complaining they hadn't been paid for months by the owner of one village.

As for as I can remember the families received 1600 baht for each girl or woman wearing the rings. Many of them had signed contracts before coming to Thailand to be tourist attractions.

A sad state of affairs for sure. On the plus side they have a great time once all the tourists have left the villages. There's always something to celebrate.