While Thailand is not alone in its infidelities, it may be unique in the extent to which people turn a blind eye to the extra-marital affairs. Losing their virginity with a prostitute is a rite of passage for most Thai men. And though polygamy was outlawed 60 years ago, keeping mia noi remains entrenched, if firmly under wraps. But the care and upkeep of mia noi is not a subject for conversation in polite company. Thailand is a conservative society, after all.
Appearances have to be maintained.
Still, few people are outraged by the practice, says computer shop manager Pichit Khitaphanna. If anything, having a mia noi is now a growing practice, says Siriporn Scrobanek, a women's counselor. It affects all layers of society. Even men who are not well-off end up taking a minor wife. Some husbands cite a poor sex life or marriages turned sour.