Prostitution in Asia

Author(s): Paul Snyder

Source: The Journal of Sex Research, Vol. 10, No. 2 (May, 1974), pp. 119-127
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd.
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The Journal of Sex Research Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 119-127

Prostitution

in

May, 1974

Asia

PAUL SNYDER
Abstract
Throughthe years this authorhas made many participantobservationsin
the brothels of America, Mexico, Panama,Cuba, Italy, Greece, Morocco,
Turkey, Korea, Japan, Okiriawa, Taiwan, South Vietnam, Thailand,
Malaysia,Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines,in addition to having
paid for the servicesof quite a few unaffiliatedstreet walkersand call girls
in most of those countries. There have been some amateurs,as well, in a
few of them; but they will not be the subject of this report. The author's
status varied throughout the quarter-centurytime period that these visits
spanned;from a lowly military enlisted man in the late 40's and early 50's,
to a NASA test range employee in the middle and late 50's, to a
government worker overseas in the early 60's, and finally a university
lecturerabroadin the late 60's and early 70's.

There are some generalities that are extensible concerning

prostitution throughout the whole of non-communist Asia that
should be dealt with before treating the subject in specific countries.
Attention will be given first to how girls in the Orient become
prostitutes. The typical career is as follows:
An impoverished peasant family recognizes that one (or more) of
their daughters is fairly good looking. They first try to marry her off
to one of the rich young men there in the vicinity who is attracted to
her. But, he, being more experienced, better educated, and powerful,
just seduces her and lets it go at that. The girl then has no more
marital value at home. The laws prevent the parents from selling her
outright; so she is sent to a known house of ill-repute. The deal is
that the Madam (mamasan) will provide the girl with a wardrobe,
teach her some poise and the ropes of the business, pay for her daily
trips to the beauty parlor, her weekly checks for VD at the clinic,
and provide her with a private room and board until she gets on her
feet and starts making money. Then the mamasan will take out part
of the girl's commission from drinks, short-times, all nights, etc.,
until the initial costs are paid off. After that the girl keeps all of her
commission, most of which she sends home to her family to buy land
or livestock. She has no commitment to the whorehouse beyond the
break even point. The usual time it takes to reach that point is from
119

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120

PAUL SYNDER

three to six months, even less if the owner's original investment is

kept down. This writer saw a girl come off the farm with one dress.
After the completion of each night's work, she washed it, hung it in
her room to dry, and slept naked in the bed. She did her own nails
and hair, thus owing very little money, and was a free agent within a
month. Most girls stay beyond the first financial obligations however
because prostitution is one of the few ways for women in the East to
make any money. This total picture also explains why most men
comment on how beautiful the Oriental prostitute is compared to
other girls over there in different lines of endeavor. There is that
initial selection process for attractiveness in her home village, then,
becoming a professional prostitute, she must learn how to make
herself more alluring, and finally there is the purchase of artificial
beauty aids.
The usual path then is that she continues to work and send money
home until she loses her beauty and thereby her value as a prostitute.
She then returns to her family, who have grown much more
substantial as a result of her efforts, and they take care of her for the
rest of her life. The other path if the girl is more independent-is to
freelance as soon as the house debt is paid. She streetwalks around
U.S. military bases, frequents the places G.I.'s do, and charges
whatever the traffic will bear. She will still send part of her proceeds
home just in case, for it is very difficult for a girl raised in the Orient
to ever completely shake the feeling that she will be someone's
dependent. The advantages of being one's own boss however, even
temporarily, is that it affords a freedom of choice as to partners. It
also affords the girl a chance to become the "paid wife" of a G.I. she
particularly likes. In many cases the girl succeeds in getting him to
eventually marry her officially.
The social structure in virtually all the nations of the Far East is
such that it places the prostitute at the lowest level of esteem. There
also exists a stratification system within the ranks of the prostitutes.
Among them, highest esteem is awarded to the girl who is bought to
become someone's permanent mistress. The second order of prestige
is granted to the girls who work in established houses. The lowest
rank is reserved for the street girls. They are called "Suzie Wongs"by
the others, and it is meant as an extremely derogatory sobriquet. The
nickname did not come from the Americans as might be guessed. It
originated with the British who were over there in force at an earlier
time.

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PROSTITUTIONIN ASIA

1 91
1fi1

The third generalityis that throughoutcontinentalAsia there is a

widespreadbelief that sex sapsone's strength.Thisfactoraffects the
men as well as the women. Asiansreallythink that sex weakensthem
and that too much sex is dangerousto theirhealthand physicalwell
being. Even the prostitutesstronglybelieve this. That is why many
will not take more than three short-timecustomersin one tour of
duty or will not let an all-nightclient do it more than threetimes. If
more is attempted they will often complain of not being strong
enoughfor it.
Anothergeneralizationis that noncoitalsex is relativelydifficult to
get in the Orient. One can get everythinganywhere,of course, but
the variations were not easy to locate in Japan, Korea, South
Vietnam, and Thailand.Most of the prostitutes there are dead set
againstit. The best chance for that kind of action in those placesis
with a girl who had been living with you, or with anotherAmerican
or European,for a long penod of time. The only placeoraland anal
sex are easy to find in the Far East is in the Philippines.The major
reason that fellatio is so hard to obtain elsewhere is that the
dominant religion states that it offends the Buddhaand those who
engagein the act will be reincarnatedas dogs.
In the recent past there have been attempts by some militant
blacks to set up "soul-brother" places. Similar attempts at
segregationhave been made by red-neckwhites. But none wereever
totally successful.There were always some white faces in the most
predominantly black places and some black patrons in the
predominantlywhite spots. It is also not true as some think?that all
the Asian girls prefer white customersover blacks. Some doS but
some otherscaterstrictlyto the Afro trade.Mostdon't careactually
It is also a fact that Asianmen havetried to get some establishments
to serviceonly the local nationalmales and no others.But, with the
possible exception of Japan, this hasn't worked out either
Prostitutes are first and foremost business women, and, with the
exception of Japanese, Americansand Europeansjust have more
money to spend. Asian men may not like this kind of competition,
but since it has nothing to do with their wives at home, they don't
worry about it too much. They will not marry prostitutes or any
other woman who has been with a Westernman. That Westerners
also use their prostitutesdoes not worry them too much, although
they often do feel intimidatedwhen Americansare present in the
same cat-houseat the same time. Some of this is due to the money

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122

PAUL SYNDER

angle, but there might also be something else. There is a popular

saying among them: "When the Americans come to our country they
widen two things, the roads and the pussy."
Now we shall turn our attention to specific Asiatic nations:
KOREA: Let's take the established houses first. This author has
visited every one in the Itewan section of Seoul, every one in the
glasshouse and barstrip area of Taegu, and every one on Texas Street
in the port of Pusan, and all more than once. They are usually
supervised by mama-sans who are normally addressed as Mama-Lee,
or Mama-Moon, etc. Neither of those I knew was an evil taskmaster.
Their futures were secure, so they often allowed their girls to go out
on dates or to the movies or any place they wanted with no business
strings attached. Of course, if the escort did short-time them or have
them sleep with him all night, he would be required to pay the
required won for that part of it. Nowhere in Korea did the author
find prostitution rigidly organized. It was always a loose affair and
the girls enjoyed a great deal of personal freedom. This enabled them
to meet men under other circumstances in the area and facilitated
their becoming paid mistresses later. A Korean girl in this
relationship is called the man's "Yobo", the man is also referred to as
her Yobo.
It is important to be on guard against thieves in Korea, just as it is
in the Philippines and South Vietnam. The people of those three
countries, unlike the Chinese, do not conceptualize theft in the same
light as Westerners.They do not consider it sinful, rather they tend
to think of it more in terms of taking advantage of a foolish person.
After all, the "victim" must be able to afford losing the thing
anyhow, otherwise he would not have left it unattended.
In Korea, sexual promiscuity is found at all levels. The last
observation about Korea is that the girls there have the best looking
legs of any females in Asia.
JAPAN: Japan has the least commercialized sex in the Orient.
Most single girls have well paying jobs in industry or other businesses,
which accounts for the scarcity of whores in that country. Most
American men who were there on occupation duty in the late 40's or
visited there on R. & R. leaves from Korea in the early 50's would
not even know the Japan of today. Japan now, all of Japan_ including the small towns and outer islands is more expensive than any
part of Asia, as well as most of the United States and Europe. Tokyo

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PROSTITUTIONIN ASIA

123

is the most expensive city in Japan and perhaps the world. In Tokyo,
the sections are divided into districts called chomes. The Ginza
chome is the most expensive area of Tokyo. The Akasaka chome is a
little cheaper. However, the girls in the clubs there, as is the case all
over Tokyo, are hostesses only and are not generally available for fun
and games after closing at any price. The only place in the
Akasaka where one can purchase sex is Nikko-Gino's restaurant;and,
it is $100 short-time. Moreover, the girls are not Japanese, but are all
foreign passport holders. The reason that Japanese entertainment
prices are so sky high is because the government allows tax
exemption for pleasure costs and these include sex.
'rhe bath houses and massage parlors in Tokyo are strictly that and
no more. If one is looking for steam baths that also give "special
massages" or for bar hostesses that double as prostitutes, he has to go
to the outlying communities in the Kanto Plain area or to other
Japanese islands.
A final note on Japan is that a tourist need not ever worry about
having anything stolen. The Japanese consider stealing not only most
shameful for themselves, but also as a dishonor to their family.
OKINAWA: Okinawa should be treated as part of Japan since it
became a home island of Japan effective 12 May 1972. Howevers
many American men remember it as a separate entity for 27 years;
albeit its language and culture has been the same as Japan's
throughout. Okinawa is an island about 100 miles long and 25 miles
wide, with approximately one million inhabitants. The two largest
cities are Naha in the south and Kosa City in the center. This writer
has cruised the red-light districts of Naminui in the former city and
B.C. street in the latter.
TAIWAN: Taiwan is an island about 400 miles long and 100 miles
wide with approximately fifteen million inhabitants. The capital and
largest city is Taipei with a population of one million. Taipei has
both prostitutes and bar hostesses. The basic difference is whether
the establishment is a bar or a club. If it is named a club such as
"Mam'selle Club" or "Playgirl Club" the girls are hostesses only (and
will chat or play cards for drinks) but cannot leave that place until
closing. Most of these hostesses then go home to their families, and,
quite often, their husbands. If the establishment is called a bar, such
as "Shanghai Bar," "O.K. Bar," "Miami Bar," etc., the girls can be
paid for and taken out by the customer anytime the place is open.

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124

PAUL SYNDER

But they never can go into business for themselves as long as they are
employed by that bar. If a bar girl tries to work anything on the side,
she will not be in trouble with any illicit infrastructure;she will be in
trouble with the legal authorities since prostitution in Taiwan is
government controlled. The bars do not open until 1:00 PM. To take
a girl out one must sign a contract with the State that she is not
obligated beyond 1:00 AM. That's a 12-hour maximum and these
contracts cost 600 NTD (New Taiwan Dollars about 15 dollars
U.S.). Of course, if the man's hotel room is nicer than her sleeping
quarters, has a hot bath, and he 's been nice to her so far, and
promises a little tip in the morning, she will usually condescend to
sleep with him all night.
In Taipei there's a notorious and enterprising panderer known as
"George" who seeks out Americans at the depots with a standard
line. He explains that the girls he knows are not really professional
whores but are merely presently forced to moonlight because of
some temporary financial crisis in her family. Then he offers to take
the customer(s) to the best hotel that allows girls in (as if any
wouldn't) and even is so helpful as to pick out the right taxi-cab.
"The others are cheats," he says. He delivers you to the hotel, brings
you a girl for $20 or $30, which he has contracted for fifteen. He
then collects a tip from the hotel, the cabbie, the girl, and quite
often the customer who is pleased with his services.
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES: In Angeles City, pretty
teenage girls will do for 30 pesos (about four dollars) for twenty-four
hours anything a customer may want her to do. What's more, she will
appear to enjoy every minute of it.
The only thing to be on guard against in the Philippines is robbery.
Unlike the Korean "slickee boys " who rob by stealth (burglary,
pickpocketing, etc.), the Filipino men will commit armed larceny by
holding a bolo knife at the neck or a pistol at the head of the victim.
SOUTH VIETNAM: South Vietnam is a unique situation because
of the thirty years of warfare that has raged there. The Americans
who were there could not get to town except in the Saigon area. This
motivated many of the females in the labor force on most of the
military outposts to pinch-hit as prostitutes. Anomie (normlessness)
is so high due to the prolonged military conflict, that even the
women and children steal and do not consider it bad behavior.
Furthermore, the fear of venereal disease is higher in Vietnam than
it is anyplace else. Americans were even told that the Vietnamese

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IN ASIA
PROSTITUTION

125

have some V.D.'s that medicalscience has not been able

prostitutes
strange
toclassify yet let alone find a cure for. The truthabout this
sexual
sicknessseems to be that prostitutes--throughmassive
resistance
a
high
so
up
built
with countlesspartnershave
experience
At least,
tovenerealinfection that they arepracticallyimmuneto it.
Military
theydo not seem to have the characteristicsymptoms.
where
places
in
girls
the
reportrepeatedlythat they examined
medics
infection
the
under VD treatmentclaimedto havepickedup
soldiers
does
butfound that none of the girls were infected. This, however,
they
Because
disease.
venereal
notpreventthe girls from transferring
may
man
one
takeone man after anotherwithout any precautions,
by
up
picked
depositthe germin the vaginawhere it remainsand is
thenext customerof the prostitute.
THAILAND:Thailandis like Spainin that all people who go there
for
likeit and long to return.It is beautifuland there is something
An
too.
everybodythere. The forms of prostitution are unique
a
interestinginnovationis that the client picks his girl from behind
establishments.
all
to
one-waymirror. The procedure is common
Firstone selects the lady he wishes by the numbershe is wearing.
is
She is called out and joins the client at a table. A drink
not
does
he
that
beforehand
immediatelyservedunless the man says
is the
wantit. If, after a brief conversationthe man decidesthat this
box,
girlhe wants, they go to a room which containsa bath, a steam
the
for
just
half-hour
the
by
and a massagetable. There is a charge
He
charge.
extra
room. If the customer uses the steanl there is an
then undressesand the girlwill bathehim then administera standard
"extra
massageon the table. If he needs a "spot reduction"of an
added
an
for
tense muscle" (masturbation),she will accomplishthis
total
charge.If the client can't be satisfiedwith anythingless than
massage
intercourse,she will accommodatehim right there on the
table for still anotherfee.
the
To pick up a girl for a whole night one has to turn to
and the
independentsthat sit aroundin the coffee shopsin Bangkok
these
is
It
Udorn.
or
nightclubs in Utapao, Pattaya, Korat, Ubon,
relationships.
freelance pickups that usually become "Tealock"
Tealockis synonymouswith the Koreanword Yobo. A man shacking
a time
up with a Thai womanis calledher Tealockand she his. After
end
frequently
of living together in a bungalow,these relationships
up in legitimatemarriages.
OTHERS:A few of the remainingAsian nations will be discussed

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126

PAUL SYNDER

briefly under this category. What occurs as one moves far south or
far west on the Asian continent is a change in religion. Buddhism is
not the majority religion. In Singapore the Hindu and Moslem
influences are felt very strongly. In India the Hindu religion is
predominant, in Turkey it is the Moslem religion. Both these
religions are much against premaritalor extramarital sex and demand
that women dress modestly and not display sexuality. Bars and
nightclubs become increasingly difficult to find in these ascetic
cultures. Unescorted ladies are never on the streets at night. This has
created a lot of overt homosexuality and covert prostitution. The
Arab and Hindu societies, much like the early American Indian, will
allow a man, who wants to, to live like a woman. That is to do
women's work, to take female type jobs, to let their hair and
fingernails grow long and to wear dresses. Transexual operations are
common in these cultures and the surgery is performed at a low price
by the local surgeons. These types of "females" often roam the
streets after dark. They look exactly like women and are used as
sexual outlets on the side by the men there. The term for them in
that part of the world is "Katoy." The most outstanding example of
their activities can be viewed after midnight on Bugi Street in
Singapore. The Katoys there are very feminine and goodlooking. If
one did not know it would be hard to imagine that they are men.
They are only curiosities to the Buddhists who don't use them but
not to the Moslems who do. Most Americans and Europeans like to
observe them but would not touch them, however the Australians
and New Zealandersstationed there do use them as sex partners.
It is just as easy to turn down the real women who work as
prostitutes. There are not many and even the large cities in the region
have only a couple of houses. They are usually staffed by ancient
staintoothed widows who have no value whatsoever in the local area.
Prostitution is more controlled in India and Turkey. It takes place
mainly in special walled compounds outside the cities similar to
many "boys' towns" in old Mexico. The girls are younger and better
looking and only cost about 75 in India and about $1.50 in
Turkey.
And now, finally, another question. What about the men who do
live with and marry Oriental prostitutes? Why do they not wait until
they return to the U.S. and marry from the current crop of young
American girls? It is most assuredly obvious that these men are not

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PROSTITUTIONIN ASIA

127

confirmed bachelors, but are, indeed, the marrying kind. A

personality profile of these men might hypothetically display a
person with a strong sex drive and who is not afraid to experiment
sexually, one who usually is a good and skilled worker. In fact, they
have to be sure and competent enough to contest authority just to
contract these marriages. The military authorities attempt to
discourage these unions, although it's not as difficult for a G.I. to
marry overseas now as it was in earlier wars. One of the prerequisites
is that the spouse must not be a prostitute. This borders on being
ludicrous since 95 percent of all the G.I. brides, throughout the
Orient, have been prostitutes; and everybody knows it including
the grooms! But the bride need merely swear that she isn't one now
and will not become one in the States, and no one questions her
further. The question still remains as to why they do not wait and
seek out a bride when they get home. There may exist a sociological
explanation for this. There is a strong antimarriage ethic growing
among present day women in America; and among many who do
agree to marry, there is an equally strong anti-childbearing ethic
building. There is also the neofeminist movement which demands
that the husband share the housework, etc., and which also demands
that the wives be allowed considerable freedom of movement outside
the home. The tough proud man described above who wants to
marry would also want children, and is more than likely a sexist who
wants his wife to stay at home. Oriental women, for the most part,
are still perfectly willing to play this type of secondary role in life.
To be sure, such a man may also wish his wife to be virginal, or at
least close; but there's little chance of that now in the U.S. (or
northern or western Europe, for that matter most especially in the
circles that such a man might run) so what difference does it make if
the prospective bride has had more men than "just a few?" Finally,
there is that Oriental femininity that means beauty, grace, and charm
even in a prostitute. Very few Occidental women can pull off being a
lady and a tramp at the same time, they 're generally much too
flakey; whereas most Oriental ones can, and with dignity!

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