History of the Thailand Bar Girl

Many people believe that Thailand bar girls are a product of the Vietnam War in SE Asia but this is only part true. Prostitution was already in Thailand in a form since as far back as the 16^th century, when Thai men like most other Asian men at this time would have their concubines. In fact up until as recent as the 1930’s it was still legal for a Thai man to have many wives.

After this period though polygamy was made illegal but Thai men still would have 2 or more wives. This new way of having more than one wife was to have a major wife, the one you would spend most of your time with, set up home with and have a family with, and a minor wife (or wives) , the ones who would who acted like mistresses. This tradition still lives on in Thailand today and can be seen as a symbol of high status. Only the richest of men that could have enough money to maintain two or more wives!

Thailand has always blamed Chinese immigrants for the introduction of prostitution as it was this group who after arriving in Bangkok established the first brothel district. The brothels at that time would only have Chinese women work in them and their clients would mainly be the Chinese immigrants but it wasn’t long before prostitution gradually spread through out the rest of Thailand.

Economics of Thailand Bar Girls

Although made illegal in 1960 it has been estimated that there are over 200,000 women offering sex services in just about every village, town and city throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. It has been suggested not long ago (2003) that the government should legalise this industry and gain tax from the $4.3 BILLION spent and also to protect the women workers by providing heath care and reducing corruption. Nothing has come of this yet so it can only be imagined that it will one day be back up for discussion.

Vietnam War Influence

The modern day Thailand bar girls not only come from Thailand but include women from all parts of the world. It was during the Vietnam War though that prostitution in Thailand seen many changes. Up until this time women working in the sex industry only had the local Thai men and pockets of immigrant workers as their customers but now with the war Thailand seen a huge influx of foreign soldiers on rest breaks from the battle fields. Based mainly in Bangkok and Pattaya it is these soldiers that have been acknowledged as the creators of what is today called the Thailand Bar Girl. The rapid increase of soldiers to these areas also brought many women from all over the world to sell sex to them

Thailand Bar Girls

In all major tourist destinations in Thailand you will find bars catering to foreigners by offering girls and you would be forgive for thinking that the sex industry was mainly for tourists. The truth however is that the tourist sex industry is a relatively small part of the over all level of the industry in Thailand, with only 5% seen by foreigners in the bars, massage parlous and the like. The other 95% operate in brothels and barbershops not know to or frequented by the foreigners or tourists to Thailand.

For the women who work in these types of bars it is an opportunity to make money for their families or to meet foreign men to marry but it must always be remembered that it is a job. They have targets to meet just like anyone else in a financial business and customers to entertain, like in any other hospitality industry, so it is unwise to just think of these women as prostitutes they have many strings to their bow.

The main aim of someone who is employed as a bar girl is to keep the customer in their bar buying drinks and also to get the customer to buy you a drink. The girls earn their money from a percentage of the drinks bought on their behalf but there is a target to maintain so they can keep their job. If a bar girl wishes to leave during their working hours with someone then she has to pay an estimated loss of earnings, or more popularly known as a ‘bar fine’. Although the girl has to pay this and it is an estimated amount the reality is the person the girl leaves with is expected to pay and the amount is set, depending on location and other factors.

If during your evening the girl offers extra services, other than the meal she has been treated to, she will expect to be paid for them. Any money exchanges for these services are kept by the girl. As this transaction was between the girl and the customer, the mama-san takes no cut and does not get involved in the process.

Thailand Bar Girls In Modern Culture

It has long been acceptable for a Thai man to visit prostitutes and although not approved of, many Thai women are aware that their husbands and boyfriends visit them. Some women in Thailand do believe that men visiting prostitutes often reduces rape in the country but there are certain untold rules about these visits. This is the reason why many Thai people believe tourists demean themselves while being on holiday by walking about with a Thailand bar girl.

Just like the red light district in Amsterdam, prostitution is an acceptable part of Thai culture but as a tourist people often have to give their opinion on it. From what I have seen of these people they can be classified into those that look for it and those that are on holiday. Those that look for it are not always sex tourists but either the curious or party lovers. I have also spoken to people who have spent a whole night in a bar girl area and said they had a great night but would have been better if there wasn’t so many bar girls. What these people fail to see is that it is these girls who helped you enjoy your night whether or not you take them back to your room is your choice, in fact whether or not you spend the whole night in the bar are is also your choice but for many of the girls their it is their job to be there.

On your next, or first, holiday to Thailand don’t go looking for the bar areas if they will offend you and if you see a western man with a Thai girl don’t always assume she is a prostitute that can get you in a lot of trouble. If you do find the bar area sit back relax and enjoy the time no one is going to arrest you or call you names it’s a bar for gods sake. But remember love them or hate them Thailand Bar Girls will entertain you, talk to you, smile with you and maybe even educate you long, long, long before she will try and seduce you.