Same-Same but Different

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Same-Same but Different 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 .................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Is Male Androphilia a Context-Dependent Cross- Cultural Universal? Raymond B
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Anthropology Faculty Publications Anthropology, Department of Winter 1-13-2017 Is Male Androphilia a Context-Dependent Cross- Cultural Universal? Raymond B. Hames University of Nebraska Lincoln, [email protected] Zachary H. Garfield Washington State University, Vancouver, [email protected] Melissa J. Garfield Washington State University, Vancouver, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthropologyfacpub Part of the Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons, and the Social Psychology and Interaction Commons Hames, Raymond B.; Garfield, Zachary H.; and Garfield, Melissa J., "Is Male Androphilia a Context-Dependent Cross-Cultural Universal?" (2017). Anthropology Faculty Publications. 132. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthropologyfacpub/132 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in Archives of Sexual Behavior 46 (2017), pp 63–71. DOI 10.1007/s10508-016-0855-7
    [Show full text]
  • Need of Third Gender Justice in Indian Society
    IJRESS Volume 2, Issue 12 (December 2012) ISSN: 2249-7382 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND LEGAL STATUS OF THIRD GENDER IN INDIAN SOCIETY Preeti Sharma* ABSTRACT The terms third gender and third sex describe individuals who are categorized as neither man or woman as well as the social category present in those societies who recognize three or more genders. To different cultures or individuals, a third gender or six may represent an intermediate state between men and women, a state of being both. The term has been used to describe hizras of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan who have gained legal identity, Fa'afafine of Polynesia, and Sworn virgins of the Balkans, among others, and is also used by many of such groups and individuals to describe themselves like the hizra, the third gender is in many cultures made up of biological males who takes on a feminine gender or sexual role. Disowned by their families in their childhood and ridiculed and abused by everyone as ''hijra'' or third sex, eunuchs earn their livelihood by dancing at the beat of drums and often resort to obscene postures but their pain and agony is not generally noticed and this demand is just a reminder of how helpless and neglected this section of society is. Thousands of welfare schemes have been launched by the government but these are only for men and women and third sex do not figure anywhere and this demand only showed mirror to society. The Constitution gives rights on the basis of citizenship and on the grounds of gender but the gross discrimination on the part of our legislature is evident.
    [Show full text]
  • Transgender Representation on American Narrative Television from 2004-2014
    TRANSJACKING TELEVISION: TRANSGENDER REPRESENTATION ON AMERICAN NARRATIVE TELEVISION FROM 2004-2014 A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Kelly K. Ryan May 2021 Examining Committee Members: Jan Fernback, Advisory Chair, Media and Communication Nancy Morris, Media and Communication Fabienne Darling-Wolf, Media and Communication Ron Becker, External Member, Miami University ABSTRACT This study considers the case of representation of transgender people and issues on American fictional television from 2004 to 2014, a period which represents a steady surge in transgender television characters relative to what came before, and prefigures a more recent burgeoning of transgender characters since 2014. The study thus positions the period of analysis as an historical period in the changing representation of transgender characters. A discourse analysis is employed that not only assesses the way that transgender characters have been represented, but contextualizes American fictional television depictions of transgender people within the broader sociopolitical landscape in which those depictions have emerged and which they likely inform. Television representations and the social milieu in which they are situated are considered as parallel, mutually informing discourses, including the ways in which those representations have been engaged discursively through reviews, news coverage and, in some cases, blogs. ii To Desmond, Oonagh and Eamonn For everything. And to my mother, Elaine Keisling, Who would have read the whole thing. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Throughout the research and writing of this dissertation, I have received a great deal of support and assistance, and therefore offer many thanks. To my Dissertation Chair, Jan Fernback, whose feedback on my writing and continued support and encouragement were invaluable to the completion of this project.
    [Show full text]
  • The Kathoey Phenomenon in Thai Cinema the Iron Ladies : El Fenómeno Kathoey En El Cine Tailandés
    ISSN 2173-5123 From the Iron to the Lady: The Kathoey Phenomenon in Thai Cinema The Iron Ladies : El fenómeno kathoey en el cine tailandés Recibido: 26 de octubre de 2011 Aceptado: 25 de noviembre de 2011 Milagros Expósito Barea Universidad de Sevilla [email protected] Abstract Even though they lack any legal rights, the kathoey , also known as ladyboys , have great social relevance in Thailand. We face a different way of looking at homosexuality, starting with a more tolerant consideration from the religious point of view thanks to the way it is conceived through karma. The successful release of The Iron Ladies (Thongkonthun, dir., 2000) initiated the production of an increasing number of gay films in Thailand. Choosing the standpoint of queer theory, this paper attempts to put across the reasons behind the success these films have found, studying the way Thai culture, particularly its cinema, depicts the various homosexual factions: the portrayal of the kathoey as a role model; an approach to the boom of male homosexuality in films; an investigation of the use of stereotypes; the evolution of the commercial gay comedy or the upsurge of dramas aimed at homosexual audiences. Keywords Thai cinema, gay cinema, kathoey, ladyboys. Resumen A pesar de que carecen de derechos legales, los kathoey , también conocidos como ladyboys , tienen una gran relevancia social en Tailandia. Nos encontramos ante una forma diferente de ver la homosexualidad, más tolerante en determinadas cuestiones, gracias a la visión que ofrece el budismo partiendo de una serie de preceptos fundamentados en el karma. El éxito alcanzado por la película The Iron Ladies (Thongkonthun, dir.
    [Show full text]
  • Nonbinary Gender Identities in Media: an Annotated Bibliography
    Nonbinary Gender Identities in Media: An Annotated Bibliography Table of Contents Introduction-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Glossary------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 Adult and Young Adult Materials----------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Nonfiction-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Articles (Scholarly and Popular)------------------------------------------------------------------------14 Fiction---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------19 Comics (Print and Web)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------28 Film and Television----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------31 Web Resources---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------37 Children’s Materials-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------41 Nonfiction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------41 Fiction---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------41 Film and Television----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------42
    [Show full text]
  • Universal Health Coverage Development in Thailand: How Global Ideas and a National Medical Professional Movement Made a Difference
    Universal Health Coverage Development in Thailand: How Global Ideas and a National Medical Professional Movement Made a Difference Rangsan Sukhampha ( [email protected] ) Bielefeld University Research Keywords: Global Health, Medical Professional Movements, Universal Health Coverage, Global Ideas Transfer, Thailand Posted Date: July 12th, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-674771/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License Page 1/24 Abstract Background: Universal health coverage is endorsed as the global development agenda in the 2015 SDGs for global achievement by 2030 and is expected to build national policymaking agendas. Common research often focuses on national processes in the rst place. For example, accounts of Thailand's health system development mostly emphasise domestic factors and inuences rather than the linkage of external/global health ideas. The paper questions how external/global health ideas inuence national health policymaking and the linkage between them in achieving Thailand's universal health coverage policy. Methods: A qualitative method was employed to capture complex and historical narratives of the national medical professional movement for Thailand's health system reform through the lens of a global social policy approach for exploring external and global health ideas transfer. Moreover, the actor- and policy entrepreneur approaches would be employed to investigate national health policymaking and examine how ideas from the external and global levels have improved national equity in health. Results: The research locates the narratives on global ideas and practices that inuence a national health system reform. This highlights the impact/role of global ideas on national professional movements, i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Presentation from SOGI Trainings
    Fern Farley, LMFT #92100 Gilbert Gammad Clinical Coordinator Youth Program Coordinator San Mateo County Pride Center San Mateo County Pride Center 1021 El Camino Real 1021 El Camino Real San Mateo, CA 94402 San Mateo, CA 94402 650-591-0133 x146 650-591-0133 x148 www.sanmateopride.org www.sanmateopride.org [email protected] [email protected] . Trainings are provided by various SMC Pride Center Staff, Adolescent Counseling Services’ Outlet program staff and Office of Diversity and Equity staff. The two trainers listed above are two individuals who have provided this training to BHRS staff and providers. Please contact Annette Pakhchian at [email protected] for a complete list of trainers and information about how to request a training. Agenda A. Introductions B. Why SOGI? C. Sexual Orientation, Sex, and Gender (terms) D. Best Practices E. Practical situations/scenarios work F. Resources and Continued Learning G. Questions and closing Click here to follow the link Why SOGI? Ethically Sound Recommended by various organizations, including the Institute of Medicine and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Mandated by the San Mateo County Health System Client-centered, holistic, integrated, strengths-based approach to improve health and well-being. Pools data in order to: Analyze the health needs of the LGBTQIA+ population Evaluate quality of care people receive Fosters opportunities for understanding, reducing, and ultimately eliminating LGBTQIA+ health disparities Increases visibility of the LGBTQIA+ population (if you’re not counted, you don’t count!) Health Disparities Among LGBTQ Population Higher rates of HIV and other STI’s Lower rates for screenings (Pap smears, cancer screening, etc.) Higher rates of substance abuse Higher rates of smoking Higher rates of anxiety and depression Source: Understanding the Health Needs of LGBT People.
    [Show full text]
  • Swedish Male Sex Tourists in Prostitution Industries Abroad
    “Welcome to Sin City” Swedish male sex tourists in prostitution industries abroad A report from Sweden's Fair Travel network “Welcome to Sin City” Swedish male sex tourists in prostitution industries abroad This report was written by Joakim Medin The aim of the Fair Travel network is that both on behalf of Schyst resande – Sweden's Fair tourism and business travel should contribute Travel network. The information is partly built to a sustainable development. That means, on interviews conducted in Thailand. among other things: Published: October 18th 2018 › Making sure that the workers in the tourism industry have decent working conditions. All photos by: Joakim Medin › Choosing climate-friendly and environmentally sound options. For enquiries about the report, contact: › Supporting locally owned businesses. Schyst resande /Fair Travel network › Acting against prostitution and trafficking. Helena Myrman, project manager, tel 070-257 03 04 › Refraining from activities that may [email protected] contribute to the exploitation of children. › Thinking about one's "alcohol footprint". Eight organizations are part of the Fair Travel network: Unionen, Childhood Foundation, Fair Action, The Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union, the IOGT-NTO movement, Real- Stars, the Church of Sweden and Union to Union. “Welcome to Sin City” 4 Introduction Introduction Pattaya, Thailand, August 2018. 52-year-old “Karl” from Sweden is sucking intensely on the nipple he has just bought some playtime with. His eyes are half open, and with his left hand he is pinching and pulling the nipple of the other naked breast in front of him. Karl adores these nipples. He pointed them out from our sofa, calling them the biggest nipples he has ever seen in this strip club.
    [Show full text]
  • Being Lgbt in Asia: Thailand Country Report
    BEING LGBT IN ASIA: THAILAND COUNTRY REPORT A Participatory Review and Analysis of the Legal and Social Environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Persons and Civil Society United Nations Development Programme UNDP Asia-Paci! c Regional Centre United Nations Service Building, 3rd Floor Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Email: [email protected] Tel: +66 (0)2 304-9100 Fax: +66 (0)2 280-2700 Web: http://asia-paci! c.undp.org/ September 2014 Proposed citation: UNDP, USAID (2014). Being LGBT in Asia: Thailand Country Report. Bangkok. This report was technically reviewed by UNDP and USAID as part of the ‘Being LGBT in Asia’ initiative. It is based on the observations of the author(s) of report on the Thailand National LGBT Community Dialogue held in Bangkok in March 2013, conversations with participants and a desk review of published literature. The views and opinions in this report do not necessarily re!ect o"cial policy positions of the United Nations Development Programme or the United States Agency for International Development. UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we o#er global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. Copyright © UNDP 2014 United Nations Development Programme UNDP Asia-Paci$c Regional Centre United Nations Service Building, 3rd Floor Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Email: [email protected] Tel: +66 (0)2 304-9100 Fax: +66 (0)2 280-2700 Web: http://asia-paci$c.undp.org/ Design: Sa$r Soeparna/Ian Mungall/UNDP.
    [Show full text]
  • An Examination of Male to Female Transgender Sex Workers' Experiences Within the Health Care and Social Service Systems in San Francisco, California
    Smith ScholarWorks Theses, Dissertations, and Projects 2007 Progressive care : an examination of male to female transgender sex workers' experiences within the health care and social service systems in San Francisco, California Laura Maria Escobar Smith College Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Escobar, Laura Maria, "Progressive care : an examination of male to female transgender sex workers' experiences within the health care and social service systems in San Francisco, California" (2007). Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA. https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/416 This Masters Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in Theses, Dissertations, and Projects by an authorized administrator of Smith ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Laura Maria Escobar Progressive Care: An Examination of Male to Female Transgender Sex Workers’ Experiences Within the Health Care and Social Service Systems in San Francisco, California ABSTRACT This qualitative study explores male to female transgender sex workers’ experiences within the social service and health care systems in San Francisco, California. Twenty one male to female transgender sex worker participants were asked to rate services provided to them by the social service and health care systems. Ten of these participants were then asked a series of questions about their experiences within the social service and health care systems in San Francisco. Participants’ racial identities and ages were not diverse. Most participants identified as African American and their ages fell between the ranges of 41 and 50 within this study. All participants had worked as sex workers and accessed social services and health care within the last five years.
    [Show full text]
  • Priručnik Za Psihoterapijski Rad Sa Lgbt Osobama
    PRIRUČNIK ZA PSIHOTERAPIJSKI RAD SA LGBT OSOBAMA Urednici: Vladimir Miletić Anastasija Milenković Sva prava su zaštićena. Nijedan deo ove publikacije ne može se reprodukovati niti kopirati elektronskim, mehaničkim ili bilo kojim drugim putem bez prethodne saglasnosti nosioca autorskih prava. Urednici: Vladimir Miletić Anastasija Milenković PRIRUČNIK ZA LGBT PSIHOTERAPIJU Prvo izdanje Udruženje za unapređenje mentalnog zdravlja Beograd Sadržaj Autori 7 Predgovor 9 I Teorija 11 Gej afirmativna psihoterapija (Jelisavka Milošević) 13 Homofobija i predrasude (Vesna Marotić) 16 Pol, rod i LGBT identiteti (Anastasija Milenković) 24 Razvojni modeli LGBT identiteta (Vladimir Miletić) 31 LGBT partnerski odnosi (Vladimir Miletić) 41 Socijalne i demografske karakteristike LGBT populacije u Srbiji 46 (Aleksandar Stojaković) II Terapija 61 Smernice za gej afirmativni psihoterapijski rad (Marko Ćirić) 62 Alati za psihoterapijski rad sa LGBT osobama (Vesna Marotić i 101 Vladimir Miletić) „Coming out“ (Vladimir Miletić) 107 Internalizovana homofobija/ heteroseksizam (Jelena Zulević) 115 III Teme 141 Psihoterapijski rad sa LGBT adolescentima (Vladimir Miletić i 142 Milica Pejović Milovančević) Specifičnosti rada sa LGBT osobama u porodičnoj terapiji 154 (Maša Karleuša Valkanou) Rad sa transseksualnim klijentima – specifičnosti tranzicije 172 i izazovi nakon nje (Dušica Marković Žigić, Jelena Zulević, Katarina Maksimović) Gej osobe koje žive sa HIV-om (Jelena Zulević) 189 Literatura 212 Pojmovnik 240 6 Autori Vladimir Miletić Anastasija Milenković Jelena Zulević Vesna Marotić Maša Karleša Valkanou Milica Pejović Milovančević Dušica Žigić Marković Katarina Maksimović Jelisavka Milošević Aleksandar Stojaković Marko Ćirić 7 8 Predgovor Prema nekim istraživanjima, u privatnim psihoterapijskim prak- sama u Velikoj Britaniji i Sjedinjenim američkim državama klijenti nehet- eroseksualne orijentacije procentualno su zastupljeniji nego klijenti het- eroseksualne orijentacije, ako se poredi odnos iz opšte populacije.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Buddhism in Thailand's Hiv/Aids Prevention and Care
    HOPE INSPIRED BY FAITH: THE ROLE OF BUDDHISM IN THAILAND'S HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND CARE by Michelle Sze Wing Mah Bachelor of Arts, Simon Fraser University, 2005 PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS by Special Arrangements In the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences In the School for International Studies © Michelle Sze Wing Mah 2008 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2008 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Michelle Sze Wing Mah Degree: Master of Arts in International Studies Title of Hope Inspired by Faith: The Role of Buddhism in Research Project: HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care in Thailand Supervisory Committee: Chair: Dr. John Harriss Professor of International Studies Dr. Michael Howard Senior Supervisor Professor of International Studies Dr. Paul Warwick Supervisor Professor of International Studies and Political Science Date Approved: August 11 th, 2008. ii SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Declaration of Partial Copyright Licence The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page of this work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. The author has further granted permission to Simon Fraser University to keep or make a digital copy for use in its circulating collection (currently available to the public at the "Institutional Repository" link of the SFU Library website <www.lib.sfu.ca> at: <http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/handle/1892/112>) and, without changing the content, to translate the thesis/project or extended essays, if technically possible, to any medium or format for the purpose of preservation of the digital work.
    [Show full text]