Hi this Ros on Nuala's log in. Today we're turning our attention to the sex industry here which, to the frustration of some Thais, has become well known the world over.
Thousands of people come on holiday to Thailand specifically because sex is readily available, and relatively safe and cheap.
In turn thousands of Thais work in an industry which actively seeks to attract foreigners. The money that's spent brings millions of dollars into the economy from the prostitutes who earn more than they would working as a waitress or a labourer, to the club owners whose takings are far greater.
What we're going to discuss is whether either side of the sex tourism equation is behaving in a morally suspect way.
Is there anything wrong with holidaying somewhere where you can pay to have sex with a consenting adult?
And on the flip-side, is there anything wrong with a country using its sex industry, and in particular prostitution, to increase visitor numbers?
Of course the Thai tourist board would say that it never markets Thailand as a sex destination. In fact some people argue that the whole sex industry is at odds with being Thai. But is indisputable that it exists, that it's allowed and that all Thais reap the economic benefits.
Professor Ferrara argues that the amount of money that sex workers send back to the countryside allows the government to keep taxes as low as they are.
Another issue is whether Thailand's flourishing sex industry is a manifestation of its economic subordination, and that as such it should be rejected. We're told that more and more Chinese use the sex industry, something which mirrors the growth of their economic power.
Also, all of this is made more complicated by the fact that some tourists and some sex workers would say that for their very different reasons they are looking for a long-term partner and that the sex industry allows them to connect with people they would never otherwise meet.
Does that make you uncomfortable? Or if it works for those involved, would be best off reserving judgement?
Rachel Harvey and I are going be sat on the top floor of a bar in one of Bangkok's red light districts and we'll be joined by a range of people with a keen interest in this (from a woman who runs a sex workers co-op to a man who's worked in the porn industry here).
Megha in India writes on Facebook:
Prostitution has been accepted as a business and its important to ensure that the workers are protected.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:27
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Kaoru Aoyama, author of 'Thai migrant sex workers', emailed us:
The moralistic argument has not made anything better for those who need to survive under the current economic and gender divide. Why not give sex workers the right to have their say from their current standpoint; after all, they must be the ones who know what they need best in order to improve their lives? We just need to accept that the sex industry is a part - and a big part - of Thai society.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:26
113631290
Paddy in Uganda writes on Facebook:
That's terrible for the unfortunate girls. Sex work is a world phenomenon so because nobody is sharing this kind of story doesn't mean its not happening in your vicinity. The risks, the stigma and humiliation are unfathomable.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:25
113631290
Mhoust writes on the Global Post site:
It's only exploitation if someone is being coerced into doing it. And anything that promotes the procreative act, even if only for recreational purposes, helps to ensure that true procreation occasionally happens; which is to the overall benefit of the human species.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:24
113631290
Bobbyvan posted on the Global Post website:
if anyone has ever actually been to thailand and visited a bar girl you will find they are not being exploited and are actually enjoying what they do. So many conservatives have no idea because they compare it to what they see in the west.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:23
113631290
Bosah in Nigeria posts on Facebook:
Here, where I live, what drives most women into prostitution is greed - the taught that they can get quick cash by doing nothing. When interviewed, most prostitutes are quick to blame their conditions on other factors - poverty, abuse, etc. but this is not always the case. Yes, some women are victims but not all, some are just plain greedy!!
Comment sent via Facebook
18:22
113631290
Angelo in Sudan writes on Facebook:
Sex workers are driven not by them being bad, but its due to social injustice in their country. If equal living standards are provided for them, sex as a business of survival will disappear.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:21
113631290
Patrick asks on Facebook:
What kind of money is in it? How is the mental health of the workers? How old are most? Are there male sex workers?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:20
113631290
Lenox posts on Facebook:
What are the impacts of sex tourism on girl-child education in Thailand since i assume most people involved in providing the service are of female gender? It's ironic that the 'western world' which may condemn the trade through their NGO's are the majority customers.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:20
113631290
Pratibha in Nepal posts on Facebook:
Here in Nepal prostitution is not as big a problem as girl trafficking is. But the more prostitution becomes legalised in Asian countries, Nepal will face more problems with girl trafficking.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:19
113631290
Gladwell writes on Facebook:
So sad to see what little, innocent girls go through due to poverty. Is there no other choice?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:18
113631290
Michel asks on Facebook:
What are the causes behind it? What are its impacts on the whole world? What measures have been taken to reduce it?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:14
113631290
Peter in Kenya posts on Facebook:
I think most of them have been forced to do that due to financial constraints. But there are still those who do that because of their greed for money.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:13
113631290
Allison in LA emails
By contributing to an economy of sex tourism you're aiding the exploitation of minors, the poor, and victims of human trafficking. No one ever wants to be a prostitute when they grow up, but they end up there because they can't find a better way to make money to support themselves or they are tricked into it.
Comment sent via host
17:37
113631290
Hi we''re on air in about 20 minutes talking to people who work in the sex industry about whether there''s anything wrong with it. Tell us what you think.
The rights and wrongs of the Thai sex industry
| Wednesday, 2 Feb. 2011 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
Hi this Ros on Nuala's log in. Today we're turning our attention to the sex industry here which, to the frustration of some Thais, has become well known the world over.
Thousands of people come on holiday to Thailand specifically because sex is readily available, and relatively safe and cheap.
In turn thousands of Thais work in an industry which actively seeks to attract foreigners. The money that's spent brings millions of dollars into the economy from the prostitutes who earn more than they would working as a waitress or a labourer, to the club owners whose takings are far greater.
What we're going to discuss is whether either side of the sex tourism equation is behaving in a morally suspect way.
Is there anything wrong with holidaying somewhere where you can pay to have sex with a consenting adult?
And on the flip-side, is there anything wrong with a country using its sex industry, and in particular prostitution, to increase visitor numbers?
Of course the Thai tourist board would say that it never markets Thailand as a sex destination. In fact some people argue that the whole sex industry is at odds with being Thai. But is indisputable that it exists, that it's allowed and that all Thais reap the economic benefits.
Professor Ferrara argues that the amount of money that sex workers send back to the countryside allows the government to keep taxes as low as they are.
Another issue is whether Thailand's flourishing sex industry is a manifestation of its economic subordination, and that as such it should be rejected. We're told that more and more Chinese use the sex industry, something which mirrors the growth of their economic power.
Also, all of this is made more complicated by the fact that some tourists and some sex workers would say that for their very different reasons they are looking for a long-term partner and that the sex industry allows them to connect with people they would never otherwise meet.
Does that make you uncomfortable? Or if it works for those involved, would be best off reserving judgement?
Rachel Harvey and I are going be sat on the top floor of a bar in one of Bangkok's red light districts and we'll be joined by a range of people with a keen interest in this (from a woman who runs a sex workers co-op to a man who's worked in the porn industry here).
Please join us.
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Megha in India writes on Facebook: Prostitution has been accepted as a business and its important to ensure that the workers are protected.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Kaoru Aoyama, author of 'Thai migrant sex workers', emailed us: The moralistic argument has not made anything better for those who need to survive under the current economic and gender divide. Why not give sex workers the right to have their say from their current standpoint; after all, they must be the ones who know what they need best in order to improve their lives? We just need to accept that the sex industry is a part - and a big part - of Thai society.
Comment sent via Facebook
Paddy in Uganda writes on Facebook: That's terrible for the unfortunate girls. Sex work is a world phenomenon so because nobody is sharing this kind of story doesn't mean its not happening in your vicinity. The risks, the stigma and humiliation are unfathomable.
Comment sent via BLOG
Mhoust writes on the Global Post site: It's only exploitation if someone is being coerced into doing it. And anything that promotes the procreative act, even if only for recreational purposes, helps to ensure that true procreation occasionally happens; which is to the overall benefit of the human species.
Comment sent via BLOG
Bobbyvan posted on the Global Post website: if anyone has ever actually been to thailand and visited a bar girl you will find they are not being exploited and are actually enjoying what they do. So many conservatives have no idea because they compare it to what they see in the west.
Comment sent via Facebook
Bosah in Nigeria posts on Facebook: Here, where I live, what drives most women into prostitution is greed - the taught that they can get quick cash by doing nothing. When interviewed, most prostitutes are quick to blame their conditions on other factors - poverty, abuse, etc. but this is not always the case. Yes, some women are victims but not all, some are just plain greedy!!
Comment sent via Facebook
Angelo in Sudan writes on Facebook: Sex workers are driven not by them being bad, but its due to social injustice in their country. If equal living standards are provided for them, sex as a business of survival will disappear.
Comment sent via Facebook
Patrick asks on Facebook: What kind of money is in it? How is the mental health of the workers? How old are most? Are there male sex workers?
Comment sent via Facebook
Lenox posts on Facebook: What are the impacts of sex tourism on girl-child education in Thailand since i assume most people involved in providing the service are of female gender? It's ironic that the 'western world' which may condemn the trade through their NGO's are the majority customers.
Comment sent via Facebook
Pratibha in Nepal posts on Facebook: Here in Nepal prostitution is not as big a problem as girl trafficking is. But the more prostitution becomes legalised in Asian countries, Nepal will face more problems with girl trafficking.
Comment sent via Facebook
Gladwell writes on Facebook: So sad to see what little, innocent girls go through due to poverty. Is there no other choice?
Comment sent via Facebook
Michel asks on Facebook: What are the causes behind it? What are its impacts on the whole world? What measures have been taken to reduce it?
Comment sent via Facebook
Peter in Kenya posts on Facebook: I think most of them have been forced to do that due to financial constraints. But there are still those who do that because of their greed for money.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Allison in LA emails By contributing to an economy of sex tourism you're aiding the exploitation of minors, the poor, and victims of human trafficking. No one ever wants to be a prostitute when they grow up, but they end up there because they can't find a better way to make money to support themselves or they are tricked into it.
Comment sent via host
Hi we''re on air in about 20 minutes talking to people who work in the sex industry about whether there''s anything wrong with it. Tell us what you think.