What's the problem with western women in Thailand?

[webfact]

What's the problem with western women in Thailand?
STEPH JOHNSON


Featured image is by Exile on James Street and used under a Creative Commons licence

BANGKOK: -- When I first announced my plans to move to Thailand a couple of years ago, a few of my male friends were curious.

Why would I, as a woman, want to live in Thailand?

As far as they saw it, Thailand was a western man’s paradise and they couldn’t really see the appeal for me, a twenty-something girl who wasn’t looking to backpack or become an English teacher.

Sex tourists, backpackers, English teachers – the three stereotypes of the Thailand apocalypse.

Of course, anyone with even a mildly nuanced appreciation for this country knows that Thailand attracts a wide spectrum of foreigners to its shores, some of which can be pegged to those three categories, but many of which harken from other walks of life.

I appreciate that Thailand is deemed a holiday paradise for many guys – tropical beaches plus cheap beer plus beautiful women equals a happy place for many a heterosexual man on vacation – but we all know that for many, this is merely the jumping off point for many of the people that fall in love with this country.

Men and women of different nationalities, sexualities, relationship statuses; regardless of sensibilities, we all love Thailand.

But while most people appreciate Thailand’s wide appeal, very occasionally a subsection of the expat population will surface who deign to treat those different from them as ‘other’. I’m particularly aware of those who are vocal about their problems with western women, if only because I am a western woman.

This isn’t a feminist diatribe, but more of a collection of observations. I know that online trolls and sexism are issues regardless of where you are in the world, but I’ve noticed a few tropes which pop up time and time again as an expat here…

Comparing western women to their Asian equivalents

Occasionally a blog post or forum thread will come to light that seeks to compare western girls with Thais. The stereotyping at play in these comparisons can occasionally be so ridiculous that they’re often more farcical than offensive. [read more...]

Full story: http://whatsonsukhumvit.com/whats-the-problem-with-western-women-in-thailand/

-- (c) What's on Sukhumvit 2016-04-18

[MaiChai]

I should say she should enjoy her time in Thailand. But paradise it is not. Give some time and she will discover some of the negatives. For example, you can't move to Thailand like you could move from the UK to France. You will always need to comply with the visa rules and justify why she is in Thailand. There is not automatic entitlement to stay, but she will discover that herself.

[Thechook]

The problem is there are to many in Thailand.

[sirineou]

She seems like a nice , well adjusted . intelligent person. IMO she will do great in Thailand or any other place.

[shirtless]

They have every reason to move there , its cheap nice weather and if they get lonely they can go to boytown 555

[SoiBiker]

The problem is there are to many in Thailand.

Too many for what?

[SoiBiker]

Interesting article. I'd say she was spot on with a number of her points. I'm sure the replies here will provide ample examples of the kind of men she describes.

[marko kok prong]

Really,who cares?

[harrycallahan]

She gives a reason why I might lean towards asian - she likes "tall men". I'm 5'8.

[ezzra]

Can't see what is the different between guys moving to Thailand or gals trying their luck in a country that welcomes

all, Thailand is an easy country to live in for guys and gals, providing of course they keep their wits about them

and that these're alert and switched on and have the means to support themselves in comfort..... some of the

comments here are futile exercise in Misogyny and nothing more....

[daoyai]

I should say she should enjoy her time in Thailand. But paradise it is not. Give some time and she will discover some of the negatives. For example, you can't move to Thailand like you could move from the UK to France. You will always need to comply with the visa rules and justify why she is in Thailand. There is not automatic entitlement to stay, but she will discover that herself.

Unless she gets married to a Thai man... much different, she then has many more rights than a farang man married to a Thai woman.

[Muzarella]

My opinion.

If a young Western woman is looking to come to Thailand for a long stay, the best and safer way is getting in some kind of activity, paid or not, like teaching, tutoring, learning, etc. Probably, in those settings, will meet other foreigners and more educated Thai people to communicate better, if she is not interested in learn Thai.

Coming just for fun and curiosity, the chances to meet nice people will get smaller.....and the chances to get into trouble will get bigger.

Bali is a lot better destination for English speakers, plus better weather and easy traveling to other Asian/English speaking countries, like Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Australia. Also Bali, is the favorite destination for single Western women after the " Eat, Pray, Love " book and movie.

My female friends in Bali, also said that it is very common and easy for Western women to hook up and party with local men.

Bali people have a lot better sense of humor and communication skills that Thai people, and it is easy to find work without so much visa restrictions, Learn the language is a piece of cake to do it well and fast.

Bangkok - Kuala Lumpur - Bali by Air Asia = $250/round trip. Cost of living in Bali very similar to Thailand.

Best areas to live in Bali - Sanur Beach or Ubud Hills.

Beautiful country! Only I do not move there because I am too old, and my a lot younger Thai wife have family and work here....

Thailand is "safer". Men in Bali are very "Italian" like myself. Too "dangerous" around beautiful women.

Edited April 18, 2016 by Muzarella

[SoiBiker]

My opinion.

If a young Western woman is looking to come to Thailand for a long stay, the best and safer way is getting in some kind of activity, paid or not, like teaching, tutoring, learning, etc. Probably, in those settings, will meet other foreigners and more educated Thai people to communicate better, if she is not interested in learn Thai.

Coming just for fun and curiosity, the chances to meet nice people will get smaller.....and the chances to get into trouble will get bigger.

Bali is a lot better destination for English speakers, plus better weather and easy traveling to other Asian/English speaking countries and Australia.

I'd say the same was true for western men also.

[BookMan]

Do Western women come to Thailand for the men?

[Acharn]

Can't see what is the different between guys moving to Thailand or gals trying their luck in a country that welcomes

all, Thailand is an easy country to live in for guys and gals, providing of course they keep their wits about them

and that these're alert and switched on and have the means to support themselves in comfort..... some of the

comments here are futile exercise in Misogyny and nothing more....

I used to know a woman who was working for her doctorate in anthropology. Her thesis topic was that prostitution had paths leading to positive outcomes for Thai women. Not all, by any means, but some. She fell in love with some Thai boy toy for a while but eventually came to her senses. I used to work for a woman who had met her Thai husband at university, back in the States. He's a government official, and she's still here, they're still happily married. Back about 1990 there was an organization for expats. Can't remember its name now, but they had a huge house on ... was it Sukhumvit Soi 36? Provided great support. They warned that the big problem for most Western women in Bangkok was the lack of social life. Many comments here are by people who are both ignorant and immature.

[fiddlehead]

My son has had a LOT of different female farang teachers. (about 8)
I can think of only one who has been here longer than 2 years.

[SoiBiker]

Do Western women come to Thailand for the men?

I guess some might, but not in the same numbers as their male counterparts. Farang female - Thai male couples are still a comparatively rare sight, and those that are around I'm guessing mostly didn't meet in a bar.

[BudRight]

The OP has clearly just moved to the Kingdom. She'll be a lot less open minded in six months.

[soalbundy]

They have every reason to move there , its cheap nice weather and if they get lonely they can go to boytown 555

or girl town, lot of lesbians come here for the sam reason sexpats come

[SoiBiker]

Can't see what is the different between guys moving to Thailand or gals trying their luck in a country that welcomes

all, Thailand is an easy country to live in for guys and gals, providing of course they keep their wits about them

and that these're alert and switched on and have the means to support themselves in comfort..... some of the

comments here are futile exercise in Misogyny and nothing more....

I used to know a woman who was working for her doctorate in anthropology. Her thesis topic was that prostitution had paths leading to positive outcomes for Thai women. Not all, by any means, but some. She fell in love with some Thai boy toy for a while but eventually came to her senses. I used to work for a woman who had met her Thai husband at university, back in the States. He's a government official, and she's still here, they're still happily married. Back about 1990 there was an organization for expats. Can't remember its name now, but they had a huge house on ... was it Sukhumvit Soi 36? Provided great support. They warned that the big problem for most Western women in Bangkok was the lack of social life. Many comments here are by people who are both ignorant and immature.

That's interesting. Many of the western women I know here have little trouble socialising - some seem to rarely ever be at home.

[HooHaa]

all i have to say is thank god for the misogynists, misfits and misanthropes out there with their insecurities.

after 20 years in thailand, i have come full circle.

give me a motivated western woman with her own life over another thai dependent any day.

personally i enjoy lying in bed discussing literature or world affairs with someone who can answer.

so, you keep it up and ill keep meeting women who are relieved that im not a sexpat <deleted>

[SoiBiker]

The OP has clearly just moved to the Kingdom. She'll be a lot less open minded in six months.

Judging by the opening paragraph, she's been here a couple of years.

[Oceanbat]

Thought it was a decent article with some astute observations. I thought she was a little too empathetic to the small % of misogynistic dinosaurs that I run into from time to time here however.

OB

[DrTuner]

Do Western women come to Thailand for the men?

I guess some might, but not in the same numbers as their male counterparts. Farang female - Thai male couples are still a comparatively rare sight, and those that are around I'm guessing mostly didn't meet in a bar.

The fire show guys at the island beaches usually brag about having gone through half of Norway.

[yellowboat]

The problem with western women in Thailand (and the rest of Asia) is that there are not enough western women in Thailand.

and have the means to support themselves in comfort...

That is getting harder to do in Thailand for foreigners and Thais alike.

[Autonuaq]

People are the same everywhere

Onky place and apearance is different.

[wabothai]

They are intruders in a man's world, like in the west.

[SOTIRIOS]

....oh God......

[ggt]

I try not to notice them...and they definitely do not notice me...it is all good...

[Kabula]

In my opinion most western women cling together like a covey of quail.

Many are so into their girl friends one has to wonder what their sexual orientation is?

They rarely make eye contact. After close to 10 years living in Thailand I've never seen single Western women stay here very long.

Furthermore, Western women are not attracted to older men like Asian women.

Most western women are very independent as they have savings and income sources. That makes a real difference in the urgency of a relationship.

I'm personally bored with blonde hair and I will take a slim, younger, black, silky, long haired Asian women even if most are acting!

Asian women are more polite, cleaner and if you find a good one will treat you better than most western women

Most retired men are invisible to younger western women in my opinion.

Like my dad said years ago, "there is a reason they are alone and it will be painful to find out why?"

He went on to say,"behind every beautiful woman is a string of broken hearts as everyone wants to be their friend?" "Son, find a plain women when you are young who can be your best friend that is honest and has similiar goals and you will be happy!"

Pop was married to the same woman for 56 years...

I didn't listen!!