Bangkok Girl the Canadian Documentary

Good to see someone writing so much about a topic that has obviously moved him. It's not a simple problem - in fact it is a very complex one. I believe the solution to many of the issues in Thailand is a systemic approach to reducing the exploitation of women. This will not necessarily make the industry any less prolific but would generate a modicum of control for the women themselves. Thais themselves have a long tradition of minor wives and prostitution and the western variant is but a small part of that, albeit less subtle and more visual.


In short, it is necessary to increase the barriers to entry to the sex industry and reduce the barriers from the industry. Education, specifically of post primary school girls, is an obvious starting point along with reduction in poverty in general. Thailand is developing very fast and poverty is primarily in certain demographic (single parent, old, and children) and geographic sectors (rural and borders). For example, many of the girls working in the bars come from North Eastern Thailand (Isaan) and there is a long tradition of girls supporting rural farming families and being married of to wealthier Thais as minor wives. Having said that, it is only a minority of girls that enter the sex industry and the vast majority still seems to cope with boring old factory or rural work and a less consumerist lifestyle etc. If you educate and generate economic power among women, you at least give them the choice. An educated girl with some economic power has some choice as to whether they enter the sex industry or not.


It is very important not to view women in Thailand, and Asia in general, as powerless pawns at an individual level. Whilst many have suffered as a result of unsavoury situations such as child trafficking, alcoholic parents and being physically abused, the economic wealth gained from this industry can and has greatly influenced their position in society at least at an economic level if not socially. The most dangerous aspect of this industry, apart the obvious issues of HIV and violence, is the rampant problems of alcohol and drug dependence - specifically Yabba and Ice. (Amphetamine and heroin / cocaine based concoctions that rapidly remove all semblance of humanity from the victim.)


A separate but linked issue is the booming industry in women marrying relatively wealthy foreigners, evidenced by substantial increases in wealth throughout Thailand. Many are ex bar girls whether the husband knows or not. Some are a complete lie, pre-meditated, cruel and conducted at a family level milking the foreign victim for all they can. Others are based on honesty and mutual acceptance of both cultures and are as successful as any other intercultural relationship. I can’t comment on relationships where the parties move abroad. In general, but not always, their seems to be some kind of rough justice in the process. The stupider / older you are the more money you loose. In either case, several families in each village will have had their lives totally transformed from the input of a foreign partner. Thai universities are now conducting academic studies of this phenomena and its influence of local economies.


This is an interesting development, with significant successes and failures at a personal level for both parties. Thais that leave Thailand to live with partners in other countries face the problems of other migrant groups, mail order brides (talk about an oversimplification!) etc. Thailand is littered with victims from this process and not just local people. Suicide / murder rates for Westerners in Thailand is high with much of the legal power held by Thais. Westerners have a hard time protecting purchases of houses, cars etc and have little chance of retaining children. Having said that, it is an increasing trend, which for many will eventually end in success, perhaps on the 2nd or 3rd relationship. Certainly, I have seen little evidence of Thai women reverting to Thai men after having relationships with Western men or Western men giving up on Thai women for that matter.


I wrote this off the top of my head and I could write far more, if anyone is interested. I could and probably should rewrite it. My personal experiences of watching Thai / Western relationships unfold and unwind makes for sad, strange and funny reading. Nothing is simple or straightforward in the “Land of Smiles”.

not an expert on thailand, just being there as turist 3 times, but as far as I know thai men is by far most of the customers to buy women for sex

but if you see in % from male turists buy women for sex is proably much higher than thai men


risks and violence, I just have to say is it overrated, in my town we have lots of thai women married to swedish men, they are all treated good and live happy there. a year ago a man in other city married to a thaiwomen had used her and keept her in prisoned and newspapers big news, thai women beware of swedish men they will treat you bad..even 1 year later in my town media still keep telling about this how sorry for all non swedish girl that come and being abused as slaves..for ONE man did it years ago.

if one whore get killed by maniccostumer suddenly all men that buy whores are killers also.

I am sure there is thosands of sexbuyers in thailand everyday and 99.999999999999999 of the men whould never harm her, he want to have a good time with her.

of course every time it happens is a tradic and failure, but not the fenomen of men have sex with women for moneys foult.


picking up a girl at a bar, give her drinks and flowers ect go home and have sex and then she leave day after that, both happy about the evening, is really no diffrence from a guy give her money and go home and have sex as long as both know the rules before and agree it is ok.


I am not shamed to say I had sex when I visited Thailand, we went to resurant both before and after we had sex, talked and had fun

she was my princess for one day, I dont see I did anything wrong or bad to her.


as long as she know what she is doing and happy about her choise, as I guy I would be happy to have girls pay me to sex with her..hehe

if I could chose to work 8 hour aday at a boring shoppingmall or something or be at home and have sex a few times per week with unknown girls

I would never ever go back to my old job

Having sex with strangers is one thing.


Having to have sex and pretend to enjoy the company of the scum that one sees in thailand is totally another.


And men who pontificate on smoking but go to prostitutes - yuuuuuuuuuck.


Totally disgusting & unattractive.

I totally agreed with you, the goddess kali. I thought he's a decent guy.

If you want a reasonably balanced view point on this topic, albeit, by a Philipine lady, I suggest reading a book called Bars of Steel. Written by an ex-Wanchai "dancing" girl.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501030908-480328,00.html

Depressing reading the responses of the morally outraged and the ignorant intent on trivialising this social phenomenon. Anyway, Hanuman is correct re the stats. The vast majority of Thai girls manage to live normal lives. The girls in the bars are generally post 20, often post 30, with all the normal baggage of kids, husbands, boyfriends, broken hearts etc. Sex slaves, the knee jerk reaction of those that cannot or choose not to accept that many of these women are making economic and social choices, based on limited choices that offer them power and social mobility. How morally convenient it is to blame the ‘bad’ people rather than deal with the root cause and the systemic nature of the Industry. I've only seen a little of the local Thai sex industry but it's a huge and undoubtedly brutal business. Wasn't the Thai age of consent 14 until a few years ago? ‘Bars of Steel’ is a good read re the girly bars in Wanchai. Probably the most ugly and obnoxious institutions in the Hong Kong sex industry, unless you enjoy having sex in full view of your fellow drinkers. The Hong Kong sex industry has to be one of the most cynical and morally corrupt. There are better reads on the Industry in general though. One called “The Sex Industry” based on international research and hours of interviews for a PhD thesis makes for interesting reading.

Sorry, a bit off topic...

OP, I agree this is a terrible documentary. I saw it a few months ago - and hated it. The film-maker's style was preachy and I think he didn't find the real answers.


The film maker is very critical of the men who pay for sex. But in making this movie, he has paid to film / date this girl. IMO his film is more about his fantasy of being Prince Charming than a real look at her life. He projects his fantasy world on her. He sees her as a victim, but, I think, in fact she was getting paid by him to provide that fantasy for him.