Migration and the commercial sex sector in Thailand.

Abstract

Survey data are used to show that female prostitutes in Thailand provide a major source of income for their origin families. Women who live in rural areas of Thailand have only limited opportunity for employment. Perceiving the need for greater household income many young women migrate to the cities to work as prostitutes. Migration in the Thai context is indeed the crucial link between development and the expansion of the sex sector. Introduction to work in the commercial sex sector normally comes through migration networks with the migration network being more important than familial socioeconomic status in determining the number and destination of young rural people looking for work outside of villages. Once in business prostitutes have relatively high levels of income and are able to remit large portions of their income. They make large contributions to household income so that their families can purchase consumer items and enjoy a relatively high standard of living. Migration into the sex sector in Thailand is therefore intimately linked to family roles. As long as rural opportunities remain limited the urban-based male demand for commercial sex services continues and rural families are willing to allow their daughters to be prostitutes young women will continue to migrate for work from rural areas to urban centers along well-established networks.