A laugh rings out; one of the young women leans over, grinning, and whacks her neighbour on the arm. Eating noodles, teasing, gossiping — they are clearly enjoying themselves, at ease with one another, relaxed. These women could be students, or colleagues, or factory workers on a break. Instead they are all prostitutes — forced by economic necessity and a lack of opportunity t o make a living selling sex to men.
Thailand has limited social welfare provisions and life is hard for the poor, especially refugees. The choice often comes down to selling sex or seeing a young sister or brother, or a child, go hungry. But these women refuse to see themselves as victims; they make the tough decision to work in the sex bars and they do the work without complaining. They want the right to ply their trade without being harassed, fined, subjected to ridiculous and restrictive work rules, arrested, demeaned.
Sachumi Mayoe looks like a young college student. But the year-old has been a bar-girl for six years; selling sex to men. Usually known by her nickname, Wi, she is brutally frank about her choices. She is from the Akha hilltribe, from Burma, and her earnings help support her parents, a nephew, two younger brothers and one younger sister. Another younger sister has recently joined her in the bars. I sold clothes. There were lots of choices. I chose this. Like anyone else in any job, my motivation was to earn.
I also really wanted to study. I really wanted the freedom to do other things. This gives me money and time. The Thais were docked about 50 baht monthly to pay off the police; the women from Burma and elsewhere baht. Others wear one-of-a-kind sailor suit school dresses. Yet others wear matching high-heeled boots, a frill of a skirt and a bra-type top. Or, indeed, entirely absent — nude dancing is always popular. Agencies fear these so-called independent workers are more difficult to target with health messages, including essential information about HIV and AIDS.
For free. Health workers fear that independent sex workers will find it more difficult to refuse customers who want unprotected sex, and they are more at risk of assault or rape.
