Thai Hookers, the life that no one look after
I was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand which lead me to encounter with this problem since I was little. Prostitution gain enormous money to the government of Thailand. We cannot deny that besides the beautiful nature and the smiley people so they called “Siam land of Smile”. In addition, the variety of culture, especially the Buddhist country bring Thailand to attracted people all around the world. Whereas the other side, if we are not too compliment to ourselves nor cover our eyes to the problem. Thais must know that their country was called “The brothel of the world” , if you think about pleasure, why not Thailand.
The image of the sex industry has always been bad, but look back to 2012, Germany had been the first country that legalize prostitution, which gain enormous revenue to the government. After that many countries legalize prostitution as well. Legalizing means that the sex worker will be protected and take care of, this shall cover the right to diagnose the sexual symptoms before hand. This lawsuit will cover the civil rights to the sex workers, to give the basic right to access to the medical and healthcare. Thus register all the worker and mandatory required that the customer must use the condom during intercourse. As we can see this will not only protect sex worker but also this law will protect the customer as well. According to the law, the sex worker will get same civil rights like other occupation which still never happen in Thailand.
Junk life / 2nd class citizen / Dehumanisation
Although, Thailand well known for “Prostitution” but the living quality of sex worker is going opposite way. In Thailand prostitution is forbidden both legal and society, so there is no civil rights or any heal care for this type of career. The low quality of life, dehumanization, this create scenario for the society to look at them with the bad attitude. Whatever they do or wherever they go if anyone knows the discrimination will happen. The sex worker life is the life that in danger most of the time such as the danger from the violence customer or ignore without pay by some officer who comes to intercourse and get their service. The sex worker always be the defendant of the society and laws, which is well reflect the inequality in Thai society, the 2nd class citizen will always get discrimination in this country.
Thai law specify the sex worker is individual who lack of intelligent and no education.
In the context of Prostitution Prevention and Suppression Act since 1960 specify that “Prostitution has significantly increase from the economy and society, most of sex workers are lack of intelligent and no education” Although, there is adjustment in fine and punishment for the pimps or the child prostitution at the brothel in Prostitution Prevention and Suppression Act 1996 but in the 1996 Act still maintain old law and regulations which is not appropriate for the situation and the context in the present time. Nowadays there is a lot of people who willingly do this job for living. This law reflects the out of date and bad attitude toward sex workers who have less “Value” than the underprivileged. Moreover, the society’d like to put sex industry in secret spot which create tough situation to the sex worker and make them to be secret group of people who has no human rights of whatsoever.
Not only female who choose this road but male, trans or elderly are as well on this road. A lot of people willingly to do this career, also they keep customer company in the hard day.
After working closely with the subject, I found that they are satisfy in their chose, some of them does not have money issue but would like to use this career as a therapist to keep customer company in the cold lonely night. Is this will harm anyone ? The question has not yet to answer. The society has already stamp them as “less value”. Clearly, to legalize prostitute is very hard because every previous government never make a progress. Nonetheless, we could cancel Prostitution Prevention and Suppression Act 1996, so the prostitution is private which both side willingly consent, so this career will get basic human rights which they should get.
Denial or Put this problem under the carpet. Is this a right way to treat this problem ?
This photo would like to be a voice for sex workers, to reflects their world and to show that every individual have their life and soul. They are a human as much as everybody in the society. So should they be humanise and protect as tax payer as other career ? When we will stop dehumanisation and start respect them as human ?