From: tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Why American Men like Thai Women
Date: 17 Dec 92 04:53:54 GMT
Organization: Auspex Systems, Santa Clara


 Sawasdee Khrup Tuk Kon

    Here I go again!  Selecting another *controversial* topic.  :-)
 Several friends have asked me about this subject so I am posting.
 If you read this article and you are offended, please let me know.
 It is my hope to share ideas and customs and views between Thais and
 Americans.  Sometimes well-known beliefs are really stereo-types or
 prejudices.  Discussing these beliefs can be difficult but at least
 we can understand why people think or act the way they do.  :-)

	WHY DO AMERICAN MEN LIKE THAI (or other Asian) WOMEN?

 As far as I know, there are several reasons which can be classified
 as physical or cultural.

 Before I begin to describe these reasons, I think it would help to
 say something about common American beliefs.  Some of these beliefs 
 *can* be labeled prejudices for very good reasons.  However, it doesn't
 change the fact that this is how a large majority of American men
 think.  Sometimes, a reasonable discussion will help a prejudice
 person clarify his/her thinking, but usually the prejudice is a
 behavior that needs time to change.  NOTE: like Thailand, the 
 university-educated Americans will probably (no guarantees) think
 think differently.  Also like Thailand, the university-educated
 Americans are a small minority of the population.  :-(

 Physical
 --------

 American men view women as trophies to be shown off to other men.
 ie. "See this very pretty woman?  She is with me, not you!  Do
      you wish she was with you?  Are you envious?"
 Because of this, American men want their women to look beautiful
 all the time.  This is why American women will wear clothes that
 show revealing parts of their bodies.  It also explains why 
 American women wear so much make-up.  This is also why American
 women are always dieting.  

 Only a small minority of American men like Thai (or other Asian) 
 women.  Most men do not like the 2-dimensional faces.  That reminds
 me, a Taiwanese girl onced asked me why I like Asian girls?  I asked
 her to stand next to a wall, then I gently pressed her face against
 the wall, looked at her sideways and said, "Look!  No daylight!"  :-)
 (I was just teasing and she laughed.)

 I like Thai girls for a different reason.  They can carry 1 Baht 
 coins in their ears (3b in each) so I do *not* have to reach into my 
 pockets for busfare when the buses are crowded.  :-)  (just teasing).
 Anyway, if an American man meets a Thai girl, he will like her
 for these reasons.

 1. Asian women look prettier longer than American women.
    Their faces do not wrinkle as quickly.  This is why the average
    American (man or woman) cannot tell how old an Asian girl really
    is.  They usually guess too low.  It is also why the average Thai 
    cannot tell how old an American man or woman really is.  They
    usually guess too high!   :-)
    American men expect the face of the girl they marry to be pretty.
    ie. "I have to wake up and look at that face for the rest of
         my life and say I love you!  Her face must be pretty."

 2. Asian women stay skinny longer than American women.
    They do not gain weight as quickly.  Since the average Thai girl
    is much less interested in sports or exercize than the average
    American girl, this is probably due to diet.  Thais do not like
    to eat *heavy* foods.  If you live in Thailand, eating light
    foods is sensible because you will sweat so much.  In America,
    it does not make any sense, especially in the winter season.
    American men expect their women to stay skinny like the girls
    that model clothes.
    ie. "Honey!  If you *don't* want me to look at that girl,
         then lose some more weight so that YOU look like HER!"

 3. Asian women can wear high-fashion clothes.
    American women cannot wear the clothes designed to emphasize
    a slender body.  At best, they look like a marshmallow squeezed
    between two Ritz crackers!  :-)  High-fashion clothes are real
    attention getters because they emphasize small and hint about
    what the body really looks like by fitting loosely or showing
    a small amount of skin in unexpected places.  American men like
    this look because it makes the woman look helpless and in need
    of protection.  :-)  It also stimulates thoughts that the woman
    will be very good in bed.  While there isn't any scientific
    evidence available to prove this theory, it is a common belief. 
    American men expect their women to look desireable to all men
    at all times.  Any group of American men will look only at the
    one pretty woman in a group of women.  All other women will be
    ignored.

    
 CULTURAL
 --------

 Any American man who has visited any Asian country immediately
 notices the different views regarding guests and family.  In
 general, they like what they see and in true American style,
 they adopt these new views.  If an American man visits the home
 of a Thai girl, he will like her for these reasons.

 1. Thai women are very very courteous to guests.
    American women cannot compete in this area.  They are not
    trained to think this way.  At best, they will offer the
    guest a seat on the couch and show him/her the TV guide.
    They will *not* offer food or sit nearby and talk.  Probably
    they will not even offer a drink!  In some places, if the
    guest drops in near mealtime, he/she will be asked to return
    later.  No free invitation to dinner, especially if the 
    family is going to a restaurant.
    Most American men that like Thai girls dream about a girl 
    serving snacks and beer to him and his friends during a
    Sunday morning football game!
    ie. "She's very beautiful AND she takes care of me!
         Do you wish that you were me?  Are you envious?"

 2. Thai women value the family more than the individual.
    American women are trained to think opposite.  Thai women
    are more likely to view staying home to care for the children
    as a sensible responsibility rather than as a sacrifice of 
    of a career.  Thai women are also less likely to divorce
    over a minor issue such as temporary loss of job or loss
    of self-respect.  They have more patience.  American men
    also believe that Thai women are more likely to help out 
    their family members, especially their parents, when they 
    are in trouble even if it means inviting them to live
    together.  This creates an assurance that she will take
    care of him when he is old.

 3. Thai women respect age and knowledge.
    American women are not taught to appreciate these values.
    American women also prefer the man to be older than the
    woman, but it is the Thai girl who will respect her husband
    because of his age and education.  This results in fewer 
    arguments over minor issues.  It also allows an American 
    man to marry a Thai girl several years younger than himself.  
    Many American men, particularly business executives, want 
    a young wife (about 23 years) when they are 50+ years old.
    Some men even divorce their wives and marry a new young
    wife! 
    ie. "Look!  I'm old and so are you, BUT look at my wife!
         Now look at yours.  Do you wish you were me?"

 Will Thai men and women please tell me what they think about
 American views of Thai women?  It would help me understand
 Thais better if I know that I am unconsciously insulting Thais.

 Khawp Khun Khrup

 tim