Homepage > Thai Youth Issues > 'Why I became a student sex worker'

Date: June 14, 2001, The Nation

Lacking the Bt3,000 she needed to pay her university tuition completely changed Fon's life two months ago, prompting her decision to become a prostitute during her school years, the girl said during a live interview on Nation Channel on Tuesday night.

"Financial need prompted me to sleep with male strangers for money," said the third-year vocational student.

Her next-door neighbour introduced her to the flesh trade after Fon consulted her about financial problems. At first her friend didn't tell Fon what kind of job she would have to do. She didn't find out until she met a procurer at a restaurant.

Their persuasiveness - and the promise of Bt1,500 - convinced Fon to go out on her first job, with a middle-aged man. She recalled that she had to tell him lies about her educational background for fear of tarnishing her school's reputation. "I was weeping and was so afraid to be with a complete stranger ... Although I was not a virgin, it is totally different having sexual intercourse with someone you do not know and don't love. At that time, I was frightened and disgusted," she said.

A few sweet words from her customer finally convinced Fon to engage in sexual activity for money, but she was disappointed to receive just Bt500 for her first time.

"I went home and spent a sleepless night. I just wept and wept and told myself I would never do it again," the girl said.

But the situation became something of a trap. Fon took up an offer from her procurer the following day after being promised Bt1,000. She said she did the job a few times to accumulate the Bt3,000 tuition fee.

Now, Fon studies in the morning and goes to the restaurant in the afternoon to wait for customers. She has never let her family or friends know about her "sideline job". "I am afraid my friends would abandon me if they knew what I was doing," she said.

Fon also said she would abandon prostitution after she completed her degree. "I used to apply for many jobs and all my applications were turned down. At that time, I had only finished Grade 9," she said.

During the interview, the host took a call from a female student calling herself "Ice", who admitted working as a "fancy woman" at a karaoke lounge. Ice said she was free to talk because she was still waiting for her customers.

Needing money to pay tuition was also the main reason Ice entered the flesh trade, she said. She also planned to give up the job after completing her education. "After I get the degree, I don't think I will need money," she said.

Her financial struggles started only a few months ago, when her father left her mother. Before that, Ice used to receive a Bt20,000 monthly allowance from him.

But Ice said she was happy with the job because she earned a lot of money. Besides covering daily expenses, the girl made enough money to buy a cellular phone and a BMW. She was even able to support her mother.

Ice said she received at least Bt2,000 when she went out with a customer, and had a few customers every night.

"I am happy because I have money. I am no longer in debt and I have no need to borrow money from friends," she said. Ice said she, too, kept her sideline job a secret.

Sukhum Chaloeisap, deputy rector of Suan Dusit Rajabhat Institute, said financial need, materialism and the rising number of jobs requiring degrees pushed young women into prostitution.

The problem of students working as prostitutes was getting worse, he said. Customers could even request which institutions they wanted their call girls to come from.