Project Description
Sex tourism and poverty are both phenomena still present in Southeast Asia. As poverty and the sex industry go hand in hand, this study investigates how sex tourism has the ability to help sex workers move out of poverty in Southeast Asia. The lifecycle of a sex worker was researched starting from why they choose sex work, stay in the position, and what eventually helps them improving their socioeconomic status. To come to a conclusion, a qualitative study was performed with the use of a literature review, semi-structured interviews, and content analysis. The interviewees were not sex workers themselves, however, they were experts on the matter. Both were based in Thailand, whereas one documentary focused on Thailand and the other on Bali, Indonesia. Results showed money as the overarching factor for choosing sex work, all in reason to improve the socioeconomic status. This study further showed political, societal, and economical structure issues as a reason to stay in the position sex workers started with. The dream of a foreign partner was another reason as why sex workers would want to stay with a more positive future in mind. The results suggest that sex tourism does help sex workers move out of poverty in Southeast Asia which can be looked at in two ways: short term or long term.
Author: N. Balk (2022)
