How did Thailand get its terrible reputation for prostitution and filth?

Question

I have never seen a country who's daughters have been so used by foreigners for sex. In the western media, whenever Thailand is brought up, it is always a reference to prostitution. HIV and child prostitution and slavery are rampant, as are sex changes, and an age of consent that is way too low.

And all of the women becoming bar girls (and I know for a fact that they all do not do this because of poverty, although many do, some do it just because they like being in this lifestyle and being used this way). And Pattaya, is there a modern Gommorah if I ever saw one... A city that otherwise geographically would be a nice play to visit is corrupted by everything abominable.

I am so tired of trying to convince my young female Thai friends to stop meeting up with their 40 year old white male "buddies" they met on the internet. They fail to realize they are only after one thing. Well, it would seem to westerners that Thailand is only good for one thing...

To Peter-

I SPECIFICALLY SAID NOT ALL GIRLS DO THAT. As a matter of fact, poverty is the most logical reason many thai women become bar girls, but there are many thai women who are well off (somewhat middle class by western standards) who do it just because they enjoy the lifestyle. I know, because I know some of them. Please learn to read carefully thank you

Answer 1

It all started in the Vietnam War, where American Soldiers came to Pattaya from Utapao airport. Thailand was a rest and relaxation stop for soldiers during the war. They introduced, drugs and prostitution to the country and transformed, believe it or not, pattaya a former fishing village into the prostitution capital of the world. Thai women yearn to be with westerners, and the easiest way they can get to them is what they think by prostitution, by meeting them in bars. I am fed up of these low life fat sex tourists, which ruin Thailands reputation and scars the country. These "low life" sex tourists, simply believe that every thai is a prostitute, and it happened once (I am not even fully thai) that some fat man came up to me and asked me how much for the night in a high class shopping mall! I was dressed very appropriately in jeans and a blouse! The stupidity of the majority of the foreigners in Thailand amazes me. These people give the good people of thailand, and the good tourists a bad reputation on both ways. I am so fed up!

Answer 2

Thailand was too accessible to Vietnam during the war years. And their beer bars and go-gos became notoriously famous. And being a buddhist country it is tolerated. Yet, there is prostitution everywhere in Asia, though quietly handles because the asian attitude toward it is tolerated but, not openly. My friend who visits Manila regularly for business says you get have a girl all night for USD20 or less. Because it is a christian country you don't hear about it that much. Though it is known by some. Hong Kong is rampant with massage parlors and hostess bars. Yet, you don't see the authorities cracking down on them. Like I said it is tolerated. It's just the Thai beer bars and go-go bars are so overt about it.

And besides Bangkok, Phuket and Phi Phi and thai silks, what else do you hear about? Beer bars, go-go bars, massage parlors and sex trade on the streets. Granted it is in isolated areas, but most noticed at night with the neons. LOL

You have to realize that the women are in survival mode. They want a better life. if their families are farmers they make very little money. I found the census for 2000 updated in 2002 for Thailand a while back. 50 percent of the population was involved in agriculture or farming. The GNP for farming added up to around 10 percent of the GNP for all of Thailand. It is a sad statistic. And it is not much different around asia, which is why many farmers send their daughters to the city to get an education or get a city job so they can send money home to help. And they get drawn to the big money of the sex trade or ....

To reiterate what happens in Thailand is not much different than what happens in other parts of asia or europe or north america. It is just tolerated in the open more than other place in Thailand.

Filth? I would rate Bangkok's restaurants nearly first class as far as cleanliness. Though the Klongs in Bangkok are filthy and reeking. And the Chao Phraya river is horribly polluted. Reminder, Thailand is an emerging third world nation.

Answer 3

To the previous answerer.

I have lived in Thailand for many years. I have witnessed Thai women being beaten in the street on many occasions. Every time the person handing out the beating is their Thai boyfriend/husband. Believe me, domestic violence is very much alive and well in Thailand. The police always stay out of it.

If you try to intervene, the husband will certainly attack you along with his friends. It is even possible, the beaten wife will attack you too out of some misplaced loyalty.

And you wonder why Thai women prefer to seek out foreign husbands???

Answer 4

Frankly, if you look at Thailand history and their culture it is a way of life where the females serve and look after the males. It is the foreigners who go to Thailand and practically abuse this trait of the culture Remember the girls are brought up to serve the man-folks and this is where they are taken advantage of.

You take away the foreign equation and you will get rid of this reputation.

You do realise that the local males respect their women-folks, but never the foreigners. The foreigners only know how to enjoy themselves and not respect the local women at all.

Answer 5

its sad isnt it that lots of Thai women do that. and just a very very small percentage of women with high education is noticed. i can understand if the western media will look down on Thai women, but i definitely will not let anyone look down on me and put me in the position where these women came from. i am totally disgusted when someone degrade me and put me in the same level as these women. i agree that lots of them do it cos they like this kind of lifestyle..i'm a woman myself, i know. many guys feel sorry for them, but no they cant fool me or other women. i've also noticed that, sorry to say, but women from lower class think differently from women of middle class or higher class.

a few weeks ago i went to a hair salon down the street just for a hair wash, and this girl said she'd seen me with my English boyfriend. she even intrude (this is one thing about them, they think by asking personal questions is the gateway to becomming friends) into asking me if my boyfriend was rich. what was his job, does he have a car. she even said i'm so lucky to have a farang boyfriend who can buy me things and pay for my living. I'm sorry, but to me, that's an INSULT. my boyfriend DOES NOT pay for my living or buy me expensive things. if he ever offer me money i will take that as an insult. my parents arent poor and i'm not with him because i'm desperate to have a good life. infact, my life was already good with or without a western guy. she even said she got a friend in Pattaya and she was lucky to have "CAUGHT" a western man and now she's living a good life. What a stupid, low....absolutely undescribably low thing to say!!! i'm sorry but i'm so absolutely disgusted by these girls action and i hate when people degrade me that i'm like them just because my nationality is THAI. god dammit!

Answer 6

Thailand may have a reputation for prostitution (and, in fairness, it is well deserved) but not for filth. People all over the world can get prostitutes anywhere, but they CHOOSE Thailand for being the best. If people fly halfway around the world for yout prostitutes, they must be very very good.

Answer 7

'cause the world need a victim.
so thailand is a victim for that. when the media (especially western medias) have nothing to report about asia,so they report about thailand and about this prostitute thing. these western media knows that it works,people like to hear and see about sex and prostitute,even the media knows that all over the world have prostitute problem,but as i told u that they need a victim.

.......................

Answer 8

- MANY - women becoming bar girls for fun and not because of poverty, I really doubt about that :) and if it happens to be true, how many percent do that because they like the lifestyle :0.1%?