Thailand's Unwavering Sex Industry (by Arash Rowshanzamir)

The rise of illicit networking in the developing world has almost emerged into a modern industry. It should come as no surprise then that revenue generated from the sex industry in Thailand surpasses that generated from many domestically monitored legal means of business. In fact, not only does this industry account for 3% of Thailand's economy, but it has essentially become an accepted mechanism for employment, incorporating close to 200 000 people, the majority of which are young women victimized by pessimistic economic circumstances. This unfortunate phenomenon is one that is indicative of current social trends across Southeast Asia. However, Thailand's sex industry is not a stagnant phenomenon. In the last half of the 20th century, conforming social and economic trends both within the country and outside of it have transformed this once domestic issue into a regional difficulty.

Historically speaking, Thailand's sex industry originated from indigenous customs of prostitution. However, it was the Vietnam War and it's after effects that transformed this social normality into a multi-billion dollar industry. The starting point was in 1967, when a contract signed between the Thai government and the US military turned Thailand into a center of 'relaxation' for American soldiers fighting in Vietnam. This contract allowed US soldiers to travel from Vietnam to neighboring Thailand in search of recreation, rest and sexual services, a trend that fostered an economic boom and a subsequent increase in tourism.

At the time, it appeared that the rise of the sex industry would be short-lived, and many predicted the industry's decline in the latter stages of the conflict. However, this turned out not to be the case. The conclusion of the war did nothing to curtail the salience of this newfound industry, but rather only resulted in its diversification as massage parlors and brothels began to expand from what were previously American military bases in an attempt to attract people back into the region. Diversification turned out to be quite the success, as waves of Western males, many being former soldiers, began to come back to the area in search of unrestricted access to sexual services. During this time period, the majority of prostitutes employed in the sex trade were ethnic Thai women.

Today however, not only has the sex trade evolved into an aspect of Thailand's economy but it has concomitantly progressed into a trans-national industry, incorporating women from all around Southeast Asia. It could be argued that the sex industry would not be as successful if not for the atrocious social, economic, and political situation of the region. In fact, recent studies show that an ever increasing proportion of all those employed in this industry are college students, who depend on this type of employment to support themselves through school. The problem's complexity, from a contemporary perspective, is that the majority of the women who are employed in the sex trade are not ethnic Thai women - as was the case during the Vietnam era - but rather are imported from neighboring countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Burma and China. The main reason for this is that Thailand's economic situation has actually gradually improved over time whereas the potential for sustainable development in the nations neighboring Thailand remains a distant prospect.

Moreover, many of the young women who enter the sex industry do so voluntarily, making it increasingly difficult to pinpoint channels of exploitation. This distinction, between those that are manipulated into joining the sex industry and those that enter it voluntary, is one of significance. Christina Arnold and Andrea Bertone, two academics who have devoted a considerable amount of attention to the problem, illuminate the contrast with precision. They argue that a significant proportion of women originally desire to be transported (or smuggled) into Thailand in search of employment opportunities; whether prostitution, domestic service or physical labor. Many of these women give consideration to the potential conditions awaiting them, but in the end, voluntarily agree to be smuggled regardless. Unfortunately, many end up finding themselves in conditions worse off than they originally expected. In effect, these girls become trafficked. They lose all control of their situation, as they no longer have the ability to dictate their own fate, but now have their outcome decided for them by profit-seekers controlling the sex market. This shift is not only emphasized by a loss of control but also becomes evident once elements of force and coercion are utilized on a regular basis.

Given the unfairness of the industry, it is no surprise that additional attention has been paid to this situation recently as more and more NGOs and international human rights organizations broaden their focus to include issues such as these. The result is evident in the fact that there have also been many new suggestions pertaining to the best way in dealing with the problem. Probably the most interesting one is the legalization of the sex trade, a proposition put forward by both Thai academics and those with first hand experience of sexual exploitation. These supporters argue that legalization of the industry would at least provide those employed in the sex trade with access to social services such as healthcare and insurance while concurrently providing a limited degree of protection from abuse. Supporting these lobbyists are those who believe that legalization will go a long way in curtailing the omnipresence of the sex industry given the fact that it would force brothel owners to pay taxes as opposed to bribing policeman. Even the country's Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is an advocate, although his support is more economically oriented. He argues that legalization of the industry followed by its imminent taxation would at least be a possible strategy for boosting the country's economy.

Legalization of the sex industry would not be without its drawbacks, however. Critics argue that it would, if anything, assign a degree of legitimacy to prostitution, making it an increasingly attractive prospect for women seeking employment. Furthermore, this added degree of authenticity would only serve to strengthen the sex trade, while at the same time subordinating the right of the women who are victimized. And given the current economic conditions in Southeast Asia it is unlikely that any measure taken would have a measurable effect. No one chooses to lead a life of prostitution. Legalization might prove temporarily sufficient in limiting the success of the sex industry but if long term solutions are to be considered, then it would be best if we looked at the real problem: the economic imbalances that have rendered these women without option in the first place.

Sources

"Thailand debates sex trade." CNN. 27 Nov. 2003. 1 Dec. 2005 <http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/11/27/thailand.sex.ap/>.

"Addressing the Sex Trade in Thailand: Some Lessons Learned from NGOs." Project Hope International. 1 Dec. 2005 <http://phi-ngo.org/Text%20Docs/Bertone%20-%20Arnold%20Gender%20Issues%202003.pdf>.

"Thailand maybe to legalize its sex industry." Thai Visa. 26 Feb. 2003. 1 Dec. 2005 <http://www.thaivisa.com/index.php?514&backPID=10&tt_news=163>.

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