Socioeconomic Construction of Prostitution in Thailand

In this chapter, the author aims to problematise how the prevalence of domestic prostitution and the sex tourism economy is socioeconomically constructed. The author, first, discusses the relationships between poverty and commercial sex engagement. Here, the author unveils how those who are systematically discriminated against and marginalised are at high risk of selling their bodies in the sex industry. Second, the author explores the relationships between unemployment and commercial sex engagement. Here, he delineates how those disadvantaged cohorts are barred from gaining a fairer share of opportunities to enter the conventional, legal labour market unless they are willing to take up socially and occupationally disdained, worst-conditioned hard labour positions. Occupational discrimination and marginalisation prompt the disadvantaged cohorts to work as prostitutes. Third, the author assesses how low education level and commercial sex engagement are related. He indicates that Thai natives from rural, impoverished households are discouraged from enjoying equal education opportunities as their more privileged, urban counterparts. The low education levels underprivileged cohorts are subject to underpin their unfavourable resumes and hinder their opportunities to enter the conventional, legal labour market. Therefore, many of them are at risk to engage in commercial sex. The author further illustrates the roles of gender inequality of socio-cultural stigmatisation against prostitutes on the prevalence of the sex industry. Lastly, the author visits the policy gaps of Thailand that propel the socioeconomic construction of prostitution and suggests recommended policies to and interventions in alleviat(ing) the prevalence of prostitution.