Today's blog is brought to you in action-adventure book form!




After a difficult day of work as the CEO of a multinational corporation, Big Spending Bob decides he is finally going to book a vacation. He is really interested in that sex tourism trip to Thailand his pal Jimmy was talking about. Bob knows he can book the trip online but he wants to make sure that his vacation plans are completely discreet so he takes a cab over to his local travel agency.







Although Bob is a little apprehensive Smooth Talking Sam, the travel agent, is able to sooth his fears. Sam shows Bob pictures of the beautiful women who will escort him during his trip to Thailand, tells him about the luxurious beaches he can visit and warns him that this low-price offer is ending soon.




Bob writes a check to the travel agency and with that the deal is complete.



In Thailand Lucy begins her day of work. She has been a sex worker since the age of 13 when her father died. She solicits sex to tourists on the street, and is also part of a travel agency. She is an escort to mostly white American tourists. She interprets for them, shows them the "local culture" and engages in sexual activities with the tourists. She really dislikes her job, but she knows she must continue working in order to support her family.



When Bob arrives in Thailand, Lucy serves as his interpreter and escorts Bob on all of his vacationing endeavors. Bob relaxes on the beach, drinks in the local bars, and enjoys spending as much time with Lucy as suits him. By the time his vacation is over, Bob decides that the trip was exactly what he needed and plans to book another one soon. Bob feels really great about his trip.










Lucy says goodbye, thankful that she doesn't have another customer until tomorrow...











The story printed above is a fictional account, but it is based on the actual histories and narratives of women involved in the global sex tourism industry. This particular story is a combination of common narratives, and ironically, this story is not nearly the most tragic of those works. While some women and children are sold into the global sex trade, around half of the women involved “…entered for pragmatic reasons and with a general sense of awareness of the choice they were making” (International Labour Organization).

In Southeast Asia, sex work tends to be one of the better paying careers for young women without an education. Because of economic hardships in the area, the sex industry continues to grow. Women cannot afford to receive educations and turn to sex work for income. Unfortunately, sex work carries extreme health risks including sexually transmitted diseases and infections, cancers caused by taking birth control for excessive periods of time and complications from frequent miscarriages or abortions.

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