But one time he told me that if his girlfriend left him for another woman, he would find that woman and rape her. So even among men like him, who are educated and doing social work, these feelings exist. As mentioned above, parents expect their daughters to marry and raise families. Thai culture holds women to very strict standards of behavior and appearance. This is something to be avoided, as it involves the dire consequence of losing face.
Female sexuality is even more regulated.
The double standard is customary in Thai culture, as men have greater sexual freedom than women. Therefore, many men react negatively when confronted with women who defy heterosexual norms. Outdated Western psychological theories have also had an effect on the way lesbianism is perceived in Thai society. Lesbianism, therefore, carries a stigma which parents want to avoid. Unfortunately, some NGOs which are ostensibly educating people about gender, sexuality, and women's issues continue to perpetuate negative attitudes towards homosexuality.