From: tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: More Thai Views on Prostitution
Date: 15 Dec 92 02:10:18 GMT
Distribution: soc
Organization: Auspex Systems, Santa Clara

Sawasdee Khrup Tuk Kon

   I am grateful to the many people who replied to my questions regarding
this subject.  I learned alot.  IF there are no objections, I will post a
SUMMARY in true Thai style (name and address withheld).  :-)

   However, before we conclude discussion of this very controversial topic,
I am wondering why nobody has discussed the very important reasons why this
problem (if you can consider it a problem) exists.  May I do so now without
offending anyone?  I don't know.  Since nobody responded the way I expected,
I can only assume that it really is a sensitive subject.  Therefore, I ask
for permission to discuss another side of it.  I apologize if I offend anyone.
You may respond to me via email.  Flames or otherwise.

   One big difference between Thailand and America is the lack of abortions.
Is this possibly because Thai men can visit the local prostitutes instead of
getting their girlfriends pregnant accidently? 

   Almost nobody mentioned this possibility.  In America, the woman still
expects the man to lead in some areas, particularly sex.  The woman expects
to "learn all about it" from the man.  If Thai men do *not* express any
physical contact with their wives in front of the family, I wonder if Thai
men also do *not* teach their sons about sex.  True or not?  If true, then
Thai girls, like American girls, create their own problem.  How can you
expect the boy to teach you if he is still a virgin?  He has to learn
somewhere.  Do Thai children learn about sex in school?  How about the
prostitute then?  Yes, she can teach the Thai boys about sex.  And the boys
don't have to worry about the prostitute getting pregnant.  

In America, sexual education is *not* taught in public schools.  I only 
learned about it (officially) when I studied Health at the university.  The
recent problems caused by AIDS have inspired some educators to discuss it,
BUT it is still a very controversial subject in America.  Many Americans
do *not* want their children learning how to have sex while in school.  
When I was age 14, I received a sex book.  My father said, "Read it and
ask me if you have any questions."  It was obvious that he did *not*
want me to ask him anything and I never did.  :-)

This creates the famous MidWest "shotgun weddings".  The boy teaches the
girl, but actually they are both experimenting because the boy does not
know how to do it.  The girl becomes pregnant and her father "asks" the
boy to marry the girl.  The father brings a shotgun just in case the boy
does not want to marry the girl.  One of my friends has 4 sisters that
were married this way.

This also creates the famous abortion problem.  Teenage sex results in
numerous abortions every year because the girl does *not* want to have the
baby.  America has many health clinics that allow girls to have abortions.
Abortion clinics are a very controversial subject in America.  People will
fight in front of clinics or throw bombs at clinics because they think
abortion is murder. 

Thai boys do not pressure their girlfriends for sex before marriage
because they can visit the prostitutes.  American boys can also visit the
prostitutes, but we have a social stigma about "paying for education".  
Another reason why University is so expensive.  :-)
Sometimes we learn by watching R or X rated movies, or by skimming sex 
books in a bookstore.  (We really hate to pay for education). :-)
Anyway, we usually learn by comparing notes with older boys.  Usually the
older boys exaggerate or lie, so boys really learn in the back seat of
a car with an unsuspecting very trusting girl.

The movie "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life" shows the British method
very clearly.  The teacher will demonstrate how to make love in front of
children aged 9.  Presumably he is demonstrating with his wife and *not*
his secretary.  :-)  Americans do *not* like this idea anymore than Thais,
but IMO it is probably the most civilized method.  At least this way,
everyone has the same level of knowledge.

Here are the questions:

	1. Are abortions common in Thailand?

	2. Do Thais prefer to send their sons to a prostitute
           instead of the father teaching the son?

	3. Do Thai girls really expect the boys to know all
	   about it without ever visiting a prostitute?

	4. Do Thais learn anything about sex in school?
           I ask this question after receiving a Thai government
           pamphlet (with pictures) as a gift from a Thai
           highschool.  The pamphlet describes sexual 
           intercourse and diseases and pregnancy in more
           detail than any book I have ever seen in America!

	5. Do Thai boys really view prostitution as a
           necessary evil since it keeps them from 
           pressuring their girlfriends?

Khawp Khun Khrup

tim
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai