As I have been meeting with various missionaries in Thailand, I have learned the following:
Approx. 60% of foreign males flying into Thailand will seek out the sex industry. Think about it: 6 out of 10 men on every single plane are going to exploit women (or occasinally "lady boys")!
In the foreigner districts of Bangkok, there are about 12,000 bar girls working every single night. Remember, this is just in Bangkok and only in foreigner districts.
Only 10% of the sex industry in Thailand is aimed at foreigners. The rest of the sex industry services Thai men.
60% of Thai 16 year old males have been with a prostitute (many of them went with their fathers for the first time)
90% of Thai college aged males have been with at least one prostitute.
Most bar girls are very poor women from the northeast regions of Thailand. These young women are often responsible for supporting kids and families. They are occasionally trafficked, but more often their situations have forced them into prostitution.
If a young woman worked a "normal" job in Bangkok for minimum wage + overtime (say a 60 hour work week), she still could not afford to live and eat in the city, let alone send money home to her family. Prostitution pays well.
It is not uncommon for girls to be sexually abused in Thailand (outside of the sex industry). There is minimal enforcement for rapes or other sexual crimes.
There is a very high rate for husbands leaving wives in Thailand (often leaving behind numerous children to support).
Even though there are tens of thousands of girls in the sex industry in Thailand, in Bangkok, all the outreach ministries of present are reaching no more than about 400-500 girls.
1 comment:
Wow! Those statistics really make your heart break. I know God has an awesome plan for you and this ministry. I can't wait to hear about all the connections you've made.
Post a Comment