Questions for the PM-elect

COMMENTARY

Published: 7/07/2011 at 10:12 AM
Newspaper section: News

Please be prepared, Khun Yingluck. On your way to be the first woman prime minister of the country that is also an international hub of commercial sex, you are bound to face questions from the media on how you are going to help your underprivileged sisters who have to make a living by selling their bodies.

I certainly hope your team will not advise you to stick to the stock answer, that education is the key to women's development.

It is a safe answer, but it camouflages the root cause of sexual exploitation.

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About the author

: Writer: Sanitsuda Ekachai; Position: Assistant Editor

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massein
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Discussion 14 : 07/07/2011 at 11:44 AM14
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In fairness to MS.Sanitsuda Ekachai, She has address the needs of women in many editorials.
to say that this is the first time to address the problems is incorrect.
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hawaiiman
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Discussion 13 : 07/07/2011 at 11:36 AM13
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Although few would condone actual sex slavery, many folks of both sexes have voluntarily entered prostitution as a way to help parents, provide an education for siblings, and raise their own standard of living. Like it or not, the sex trade is a major contributor to the Thai economy. Those who self righteously condemn it never consider any of that.
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bencanuck
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Discussion 12 : 07/07/2011 at 10:46 AM12
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I find it amazing that people (ahem, men) posting here are able to read Ms Sanitsuda's questions to a woman with power, at a time when "women's issues" is gaining attention due to Ms Yingluck's position, and then dismiss any feminist indignation of Ms Sanitsuda as 'partisan'. Awfully convenient how that works...

Gosh, good thing people (ahem, men) know that Ms Sanitsuda's highest loyalty is in party politics, not in feminism or gender issues. If they hadn't been able to (miraculously) know this about her motivations, they might have had to deal with her indignation and arguments on their own merits! Thank God we've been spared that!
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bencanuck
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Discussion 11 : 07/07/2011 at 10:27 AM11
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airborne, discussion 6

"Another prudish editorial"

No. If you listen, there is definitely INDIGNATION about social injustices towards women and a challenge towards a woman whose position can help. It's called feminism.
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tomb
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Discussion 10 : 07/07/2011 at 10:22 AM10
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Dear miss Sanitsuda, don't you think there are more pressing problems than to clean up the adult entertainment industry? The economy, for one, as well as human trafficking, eradication of poverty, corruption etc.

BTW, do you really think the average working girl would applaud you if she wasn't able anymore to make a quick buck in a 'short time'? Get real and acknowledge that, despicable as you may find it, Thailand and thousands of its citizens (and tourist places) have become reliant on the flesh trade.

AFAIAC, regulate the industry like Holland did, and tax all participants. Don't go on yet another witch hunt.
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Eric
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Discussion 9 : 07/07/2011 at 09:10 AM9
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Khun Suntisuka certainly revealed where her affliation lays. Yingluck is not even officially PM and there are many important issues at hand. The issue of prostitution has been around for ages and Suntisuka chose to crusade this issue at her opportune time. I think we need BP editor to have nil affliation and neutral and learn to be more constructive than personal. Matter of fact, the idea of providing 100M B for enhancing activities are exactly what is needed as prostitution largely due to poverty.
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banmebkk
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Discussion 8 : 07/07/2011 at 08:48 AM8
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I think the main point the author is trying to make is that Yingluck promise 100 million baht per province to support the occupational activities of women's groups. BUT there is no clear outline how the money are going to be used. Most likely the money will be used in the wrong place, and funneled into their own pockets.

Education and better standard of living is required to improve the prostitution situation, not throwing money around making promises in order to gain support. Yingluck has been criticized by many local women groups because she never made a clear outline of how she is going to help with women issues, instead just promising money. Due to the lack of qualified teachers, I think a better idea is to give teachers higher salaries in public schools in order to attract more qualified teachers. There is a lack of good teachers in rural areas simply because the salary is too low.
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upena
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Discussion 7 : 07/07/2011 at 08:40 AM7
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It doesn't help that the Tourism Authority of Thailand promotes Pattaya heavily to include the transvestite beauty contest when they should be promoting the cultural side of Thailand.

I remember back in the 70's when asked a similar question was asked about prostitutes in Thailand, the Prime Minister simply said that there were none since it is illegal.
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airborne
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Discussion 6 : 07/07/2011 at 08:18 AM6
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Another prudish editorial based on opinion, not fact. Opine with indignity as much as you want, but the job is generally easy, pays a lot, and suits the needs of people who like to just sit around. That is not to say there are not many, many women young and old who do not want to be in the industry. Help them.
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ndw76
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Discussion 5 : 07/07/2011 at 07:34 AM5
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It is a common theme around the world. When a woman is promoted to a high position in government or business she is expected by many to help her sisters climb the ladder. Sadly it rarely, if ever, works out this way. Women at the top seem to be just as hard if not harder than the men.
No one really knows why this is, but many people believe it has something to do with a lone woman at the top of a male hierarchy trying to protect herself in a perceived misogynistic environment.
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