Part 1 — Women’s Stories

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Thailand

Economics and mass media are behind prostitution

Prostitution is not a new problem, but it is under discussion today because of heightened social concern. And the problem of the flesh trade is a very important human concern. Those who are most exploited sexually and economically are women. Many men see women as existing primarily for male sexual gratification, or as products for exchange not unlike other products of the market place.

For our understanding, let me review briefly the situation in Thai society from the past until now. In the distant past, men and women were differentiated according to sex, but they were dependent on one another, both having equal responsibilities for agricultural production. When people began to "advance" intellectually and materially, society began to change. People knew how to engage in agriculture and exploit labour. Slavery then became a possibility. Women became home slaves, useful both for domestic chores and for enhancing the honour and prestige of the men. Any man who had a number of wives was considered a hero, a figure to be admired. Society, which had once enjoyed the co-operative endeavours of men and women, now became profit-seeking, exploitative and industrial. Women could participate in this society because they had one thing to offer: their bodies. And they were also exploited as the weaker sex. Whenever women had positions of responsibility, these were designated by men, and women were treated as property.

The flesh trade from past to present

We do not know when the flesh trade began in Thailand. But we have discovered that, when the Chinese began moving into Thailand as labourers, they did not bring their families with them. Rather, they found Chinese women in Thailand to serve their sexual "needs". But when there were not enough Chinese women to supply the needs of the increasing number of male labourers who immigrated, they then took Thai women for the same purpose.

The second cause was slavery, which existed from the time of the great King Narai¹. Slaves were found to serve his needs. In the time of Rama I², prostitution increased at an alarming rate, and the institution was made legal. The government collected taxes on it from various parts of the country. In the time of King Chulalongkorn³ slavery was abolished, but this actually increased prostitution, as former slaves took up this profession. There was registration of prostitutes under law, and the law defended the practice.

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By 1932, there was a change of government and an accompanying cultural reformation⁴. The impact of western culture upon Thai culture then lifted the status of women to approximate equality with men. The new government issued a decree forbidding the sale of prostitutes. This same law is still in effect.

Reasons for prostitution

The social situation of women who become prostitutes:

Increasingly, industrialisation takes precedence over agriculture, so that profit accrues to a minority in society. The poverty which has afflicted villages in the past has in no way been alleviated; this leads to great anxiety about survival. Government projects for village development have not been completely effective, with the result that rural women often turn to the city for work, and many of these women fall into prostitution.

Most women have finished compulsory school, but have little opportunity for further education because higher education is only available in the cities. This means that women are easily deceived by shrewd operators, who have various methods of procurement. These women are too uninformed to make right decisions.

The recent development of mass media has brought the influence of the city into the lives of people in remote places, with a resulting radical change in the value system. Since parents have benefited economically and materially from the institution of prostitution, many are willing for their daughters to go into it.

Tourism was developed under Prime Minister Sarit, and soon became one of the major foreign income-earning industries of the country. This changed prostitution into an international business, in which Thai women were advertised, bought and sold as though they were mere natural resources of the country. Under tourism, prostitution increased at a tremendous rate and became even more exploitative.

Enticement into prostitution:

Procurers often go into the villages, pose as prospective husbands and lovers, ask for the hand of some girl, secure permission, and then take her into prostitution in the city. Agents or procurers from prostitution agencies will also go through the village headman to procure girls directly for business. Employment agencies will go to villages, seek out the attractive girls, give sums of money to the parents with the promise of good jobs for their daughters in the city, then take them into prostitution.

Willing complicity on the part of the women themselves:

Poverty, or the deep debt in which parents find themselves, encourages the daughters, who are loyal to the family, to enter into this profession. Modern values, such as fashion, are also an incentive.

Dealing with the problem

In the opinion of the writer, this is a problem which we cannot quickly solve — for it is not a problem which occurred yesterday. It is an age-old curse. But we can make some effort to keep it from advancing further than it has already.

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Prevention:

Vocational training for poverty-stricken young people. Advice for villagers concerning the ways of procurement. Education about human dignity and values for young people. Audio-visual materials about sexually transmitted diseases.

A present problem is that some girls are willing because they have heard of the great benefits of this profession. Therefore, the government must use its full powers to enforce the law and prosecute violators. Every effort must be made to enhance economic development consonant with the needs and abilities of the villagers. Attention should be given to the dissemination of technical know-how without restrictions.

Church people should have a role in solving the problem, not just in condemning it as morally evil. Often, church people isolate themselves by proclaiming religion as too pure to touch anything so evil. Church people should clearly identify themselves with this problem.

Another aspect of the problem is the prevailing attitude which views men as dominant, and women as property which can be exchanged. The value system that believes money is power and life enjoyment is not only part of the outlook of men, but of women as well. Neither sees the true value of human life. Even if economics, politics and society change for the better, wherever this system of values exists, the situation cannot be changed.

One point to ponder is that which appears in the scriptures: God did not create man to consider himself superior to woman. Both men and women were created in the image of God as suitable companions. This is the highest honour human beings could receive. They should not exploit one another for personal gain.

The question which challenges us is: what is our attitude after we have learned about these things? And what will we do about it?

Notes

1. from the mid-seventeenth century.

2. Chao Phya Chakri was crowned Rama I in 1782.

3. Chulalongkorn (Rama V) reigned from 1868-1910.

4. 1932 was the year of a bloodless coup, led by students, against the absolute monarchy; the result was the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, with power in the hands of a military/civilian group.