Same-Same but Different
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SAME SAME B U T D I F F E R E N T A BASELINE STUDY ON THE VULNERABILITIES OF TRANSGENDER SEXWORKERS IN BANGKOK’S SEX INDUSTRY +"33&55%"7*4t+0)/26*/-&:t(-&//.*-&4 Same Same But Different A Baseline Study on the Vulnerabilities of Transgender Sex Workers in Bangkok’s Sex Industry May 2016 Report Authors: Jarrett Davis, MA Independent Social Researcher & Consultant, Exploitation and Violence Issues [email protected] John Quinley III, BA Independent Researcher Human Rights & Migration in Southeast Asia [email protected] Advisor and Consultant: Glenn Miles, PhD Consultant in International Child & Vulnerable Persons Rights [email protected] Acknowledgements: Principal Researcher and Consultant: Jarrett Davis Social Research Consultant, Love146 Field Consulting and Field Data Review: Celeste McGee Rebekah Berković Executive Director, Dton Naam Administrator, Dton Naam Field Interviewers: Chai Yo Jannakron Malinee Phosae Carter K. Quinley Manager, Urban Neighbors of Social Worker, Dton Naam Thailand National Coordinator, Hope Freedom Collaborative Sirisuk Cham Volunteer Interviewer Desk Review and Support: John Quinley III Tom Morrison Mirka Langlois Independent Researcher Researcher, Chab Dai Intern, Dton Naam Art and Photography: Isen Majennt & Paul Austria Caleb P. Quinley Cover Layout and Design Cover Photography 1 First and foremost, we would like to thank the strong ladyboys and transgender women who agreed to be a part of this project, sharing their experiences, and helping us to learn more about their daily lives. We dedicate this project to you. This project would not have been possible without the enthusiastic on-the-ground and technical support of Dton Naam Foundation: And a very special thanks to Equitas International and Love146 for their generous financial support that made this research possible. 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgements: ....................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ 6 Literature Review: ........................................................................................................... 7 Research Approaches in Asia ......................................................................................................... 7 Thailand Overview ........................................................................................................................... 8 What's in a name? ........................................................................................................................... 9 Culture, Religion, and Gender ....................................................................................................... 10 Political History and Modernization of Sex and Gender ................................................................ 12 Legal Gender Recognition and Identity Cards ............................................................................... 13 Physical and Sexual Violence ....................................................................................................... 15 Transgender Persons in the Sex industry ..................................................................................... 16 Methodology .................................................................................................................. 19 Sampling ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Research Instrument ..................................................................................................................... 19 Ethical Considerations ................................................................................................................... 20 Limitations ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................................................ 21 Glossary of terms .......................................................................................................................... 22 Results ........................................................................................................................... 25 Demographics ............................................................................................................................... 25 Migration and Entrance into Entertainment Work .......................................................................... 26 Financial Implications .................................................................................................................... 27 Stigma / Discrimination .................................................................................................................. 27 Gender/Sexual Identity .................................................................................................................. 29 Sex Work ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Violence and Sexual Abuse ........................................................................................................... 31 Sexual Health ................................................................................................................................ 32 Alternative Employment ................................................................................................................. 33 Analysis & Discussion .................................................................................................. 35 Stigma ........................................................................................................................................... 35 Discrimination ................................................................................................................................ 37 Police Bribes .............................................................................................................................. 38 Sexual Violence ............................................................................................................................. 39 Varying Degrees of Vulnerability Regarding Educational Attainment: ........................................... 41 Health Vulnerabilities and Resilience ............................................................................................ 42 HIV/AIDS, STIs and Unprotected Sex ....................................................................................... 43 Sex Education ............................................................................................................................ 44 Substance Abuse ....................................................................................................................... 44 Being Used for Pornographic Material: ...................................................................................... 46 Exploring motivation for sex work .................................................................................................. 47 3 Self-identity and Sex work: ............................................................................................................ 48 Migration ........................................................................................................................................ 49 Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 51 To the development community and their donors .......................................................................... 51 Advocacy and Understanding .................................................................................................... 51 Client-centered Counseling ........................................................................................................ 51 Diversification ............................................................................................................................. 52 Collaboration .............................................................................................................................. 52 To Government, Religious, and Community groups ...................................................................... 52 Religious Groups ....................................................................................................................... 52 Legislation .................................................................................................................................. 53 Ministry of Education .................................................................................................................. 53 Health ......................................................................................................................................... 53 To Social Researchers .................................................................................................................. 53 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 55 Bibliography .................................................................................................................