I am a yank working/living in Sinagpore for 4 years, hope to partial retire in LOS with Thai sweetheart, soon to be wife. This is probably the most insightful post on this topic I have read, which says a lot, as this is the most popular topic relating to Thai Blogs. Many of us traveling construction workers also consider ourselves as prostitutes of sorts; trading our time from familly, health, spirituallity for money, I too believe that this slope is slippery, better not to judge/question other fellow humans? Many Thai families do send their daughters over seas with a blind eye, while tring to keep the sons home ,as the girls are much better at sending money home to the parents, sisters, daughters, sons etc, ect. As the young men tend to spend the money, get drunk and eventually disappear. ALways better to count on the women to bring home the bacon! Thailand is famous for this, but China, Vietnam, Indonesia all have the same scenery; women doing what ever it takes to take care of their family. Great Blog!
Thanks,
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It's difficult and complex and most certainly built on context but either way a most respected post. I'm sorry about your bereavement.

And Martyn you are spot on, a lot of westerners' initial reaction is prostitute=bad girl. At least in THailand there is more compassion usually towards needs must. Without our cushy welfare state I think it would be a different story for so many people, and you just never know what you might have to do…until you've walked a day in her shoes etc.

That said, Catherine is right this girl is not desperate just trying to make a quick buck. Thailand is so consumer orientated and for some young women the choice to prostitute themselves whether as a hi-so fun girl, or a low-rent bar girl, is a commercial one unfortunately. Here's hoping this girl learns to value her body and self esteem a little more than the latest phone.

I think you hit the nail bang on the head, in fact you may have driven it straight through the floorboards.

It's an awful business to be in, so I wonder why she'd risk losing the respect of friends and family. I mean, she doesn't have small children to care for, right? From what I've read, it's the common reason for young Thai girls going into prostitution. So, it's not like she has severly limited choices.

Here's hoping she bails under the pressure. Way before she starts taking drugs to dull it out.

I have always said…if you took away the single parent child benefit payments in the UK then before long there would be a hooker in every bar and on every street corner….I believe that such payments in Thailand would stop all the fun of the fair, but it ain't going to happen.

I must agree with John and say that I am surprised the girl is floating her boat in her home village and not somewhere far away. Poppy's ancient concubine theory is interesting and rings loud and true. Great post. Best wishes to you and I hope the girl pulls through.