Bangkok for Women
Bangkok may have earned a reputation as a sex tourist destination for men, but it’s an unfair label, for the city offers so much more for its four million strong population of women. Vast, sprawling, Bangkok offers myriad cultural, recreational, and social activities to suit women. Be they backpackers, trailing spouses, single employees, or itinerant English teachers, more and more women are discovering the charms of Bangkok and its affordable hospitality.
The Thai are famously welcoming and friendly and offer value for money that is second to none when it comes to hospitality. Health and beauty are taken seriously by Thai women, and the spa and beautification services on offer are huge drawcards for us visiting women. Then there is the famous Thai cuisine, offered at numerous restaurants (yes, the Thai have a soft spot for cake shops too!), excellent shopping, friendly locals, international ‘ex-pat’ groups and all sorts of activities for our families, such as cultural events and amusement parks.
Culture and Etiquette
Thais are almost always keen to make friends with foreigners or at least practice their English. They might be a little shy in approaching you but are always willing to be helpful and learn about your culture. Indeed it is the people that make the country famous. They are mostly honest and sincere and you’ll get so much more out your stay by accepting their impromptu invitations to share food or chat. If you feel they are taking you for a ride (expecting you to pay the restaurant bill for instance) be aware that it is part of their culture for the wealthier person to pay, they’ll show you plenty of respect in return, besides most of them earn a fraction of what you do.
Women hold a complicated, essential place in Thai culture. Pop culture’s image of the compliant, eager-to-please Asian sex kitten is grounded partly in truth, partly in myth. Thai girls are brought up to be modest, respectful ladies who will serve their husbands and make them happy. On the other hand, many of these same ladies work as hard if not harder than their partners; they usually hold the household purse strings and make major family decisions. Pertinently, the loose bar girls you typically see in tourist areas are but a fraction of the female population of the kingdom, and certainly not a true representation of moral habits.
Many Thai women are single mothers and sole breadwinners. In Bangkok you are likely to encounter cosmopolitan career girls with perfect English as well as humble up-country women attracted to work opportunities. By learning some Thai you’ll find it rewarding and easy to strike up conversations with street vendors and market traders.
One of Bangkok’s major draws, particularly for women from Europe and North America, is the hot climate. Wearing the tank-tops, tiny shorts, and other revealing attire one usually associates with summer, however, is perceived as uncouth here. Thais tend to dress very modestly and smartly, although tight jeans and tops are popular with the young in Bangkok, but don’t expect to see them in bikinis. Don’t fooled by the attire of the youth in Siam Square, Thais are very particular about their status and this is subtly reflected in how they dress and behave. As a foreigner you can freely mingle with upper class hi-so ladies or banter with fruit vendors on the streets, but the Thai are bound by far stricter protocol.
Prevailing Thai culture believes that how your clothing and hygiene reflect not only your self-respect, but also your respect for those around you. That translates into bathing regularly and wearing clean clothing that doesn’t feature rips, stains, etc. Bohemian style is fine, but taking the backpacker ethos to an extreme will leave only a poor impression among your gracious hosts.
Go go girls
It’s undeniable, the sex trade is deeply rooted in Thai culture, and was around long before the American G.I.s arrived in the sixties. Today the girlie bar scene is still going strong, thanks to loyal patronage from foreigners and locals of all stripes. As long as drought-ridden Isaan (north-eastern Thailand) offers few job opportunities, women willing to work in the sex trade will continue streaming into Bangkok. Female travellers who feel uncomfortable about prostitution can avoid the scene easily, especially since former Deputy Prime Minister Purachai created “special entertainment zones” about five years ago. If you stay away from Patpong, Soi Cowboy, and Sukhumvit Soi 33, you might not see a single a-go-go bar during your entire visit.
If your curiosity gets the better of you, you might find the whole scene entertaining and certainly won’t be the only foreign women in the bar, though you should be prepared to buy expensive drinks like everyone else. You’ll soon realise that apart from the sleazy looking men, the whole scene is rather safe, relaxed and lively, unlike the underground prostitution scene of other countries. These bar girls sometimes speak the best English and are happy to chat openly with you if the bar isn’t busy. They are simply trying to make a living according to a different set of morals.
Women foreigners who want to help prostitutes improve their lives can call EMPOWER to see how they can make a difference during their time in Bangkok. EMPOWER’s office phone numbers are 02-526-8311 and 02-968-8021.
Bangkok for Children
Visitors who bring their own little angels to the City of Angels will find many activity ideas in our children’s section. Thai people generally show unbounded patience with and affection for children -- theirs and those of foreigners.
Women making a long-term move to Bangkok may wonder what bringing up a family here is like. Thanks to globalisation, ex-pat family life needn’t feel radically different from how it would at home. Many mums report better paediatric care in Bangkok than they would receive back home, certainly much cheaper. Family travel in this region is cheaper than at home and certainly very colourful.
Employed and/or simply travelling women can check out Social Women in Bangkok, a group that started about five years ago to help foreigners network and have fun. SWIB issues a monthly email newsletter to update members on SWIB happy hours, adventure excursions, charity activities, sport, roommates wanted, cultural events, and so on. Contact SWIB at swibkk@gmail.com.
Women coming to Bangkok with young children can check out Bangkok Mothers & Babies International. BAMBI sponsors play groups, meetings for pregnant and nursing mothers, special holiday events, and countless charity activities. There is also a growing WOMBLES subgroup (Working Mums of BAMBI, Let’s Eat Supper) to support working mums. BAMBI members receive a monthly glossy magazine that includes articles about pregnancy, birth, and parenting in Bangkok, as well as travel stories and children’s book reviews. Visit www.bambi-bangkok.org.
Pampering
Bangkok’s delights often seem offset by the stress of pollution, traffic, and seasonal extreme heat. But unwinding here is much more affordable than in Europe and North America, so make the most of it!
Massage: you can opt for a Thai massage (usually about 200 baht per hour); reflexology (or foot) massage (usually about 250 baht per hour); or an aromatherapy massage (at least 500 baht per hour). Nearly all of the places you see on a well-trafficked sois offer regular, non-sex trade services. Tip for a great one hour-long massage should be about 50 to 100 baht.
Manicures/pedicures: a manicure or pedicure usually costs about 100 to 200 baht. If you want to splash out, do both at the same time. Thai nail technicians can do elaborately detailed art on your nails, for a little extra cost.
Shampoo and blow-dry: this spoils you compared to hair salons back home. They will massage your scalp during the shampoo for about 10 minutes, and style your hair any way you want -- often serving you a complementary coffee, tea or soda while you flip through a gossip mag -- all for 100 to 200baht.
Spas: in fact you can go the whole hog and check into a day spa for any one of their programs ranging from a few hours for 3000 baht, to a whole day in an exclusive establishment for 10,000 baht. Thailand has become a world class spa venue, with a range of affordable and luxury choice.
This is page 1 of 3. Go to Page 2: Health and Safety for Women in Bangkok…
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