User:Perl s/sandbox

My Sandbox

Selecting Possible Articles

Area https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai_Province,

Sector https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_trafficking_of_women_and_children_in_Thailand, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sex_tourism Perl s (talk) 20:23, 31 January 2018 (UTC)

Evaluating Two Articles

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai

The main gap I see in this article is that there is virtually no information about Chiang Mai's economy. Being the second largest city in Thailand (just after Bangkok), I think a section on the city's economy is critical to providing an adequate overview of city life and history. I would be interested to research and add a section on the economy, with special attention to how it may have changed over time with the rise of tourism to the region, and how the informal economy (including sex work) has developed with trends in globalization and changes in Thailand's more formal labor sectors. Learning more about the city's economy would be very beneficial to my PE, as I will be interacting directly with members of the city's informal labor force. The article also seems to be presented in a very positive light overall, and while I agree that Chiang Mai is a wonderful city (I have been there before), I think a slightly more objective tone would promote the professionalism and legitimacy of the article as a whole.

UPDATED 3/11/18 - I have decided to add a section on informal economy to the general Thailand page rather than the Chiang Mai page, due to quality and subject of available sources. This would be a nice addition to the already robust economics section the page has. It is missing mentions of informal labor sector, which makes up over 60% of the thai economy, so I hope to bring visibility to that side of the country's workforce.

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_trafficking_of_women_and_children_in_Thailand

The main problem I have with this article can be summarized by its title: "Sex Trafficking of Women and Children in Thailand." This article's title and content leaves out the fact that men are trafficked for sex too. While less frequent and far less talked about, men are a group affected by the issue and I would like to see the title of this article changed to “Sex Trafficking of Persons in Thailand” to include all victim populations. “Trafficking of/in Persons” is also a more official term used by the Dept of State to refer to the issue, so it would raise the professionalism of this article to change the title to reflect this language. Because my PE works with men and boys who are trafficked for sex, I feel strongly that the language of this article should be changed to maximize inclusion of all people affected by the issue. I would add in the “Risks for Sex Workers” section that refers to HIV/AIDs that men and boys who are trafficked are especially affected by this issue. Being specific about the epidemic as it relates to male trafficked population would provide valuable visibility. Researching how men and boys are especially affected by HIV/AIDS in the sex work industry would allow me to enter my PE with greater understanding of health as it relates to human trafficking.

Beginning Bibliography

Area

• I plan to use this study to support information I add on Chiang Mai’s economy, specifically regarding the city’s informal labor sector and specialized trades (such as flower selling, which is often—surprisingly—a gateway into sex work for young boys) • This article also touches on why different specialized economies attract men versus women, migrants versus natives, and adults versus children. I hope to highlight these dynamics somewhere in the article’s economy section.

• This article explains historical trends in labor migration and informal work across Asia, especially in the age of globalization, and will support information I add to the article regarding the informal economy, migration, and the city’s demographics. • I hope to focus on economy here but may make additions in other sections as they come up, regarding the city’s demographics, culture, and even dangers/crime

• Citation format will be revised (not sure how to best cite a conference report) • This work sheds light on the impact of globalization on ethnic minorities’ migration and labor around the world, specifically in regards to the experiences of hill tribes in Thailand coming to cities such as Chiang Mai for employment • Many of the boys I will be working with during my PE are stateless and come from these tribes, so this work will inform my understanding of the demographic my organizations serves, as well as support information I add to the article’s demographics section (and economy) regarding the presence of stateless people in Chiang Mai

Sector

• This article has interesting insights on the role the Thai government plays in acknowledging the issue of human trafficking, providing support services, and encouraging (or discouraging) legal action • I hope to use this book to learn more about human trafficking in Thailand in general and see where the gaps of who is served/protected and who is not, lie (especially in regards to men/boys and stateless individuals)

• This article delves into the way that globalization has changed patterns of human trafficking, which is something I hope to add to this article where necessary (maybe a section explaining the way the issue has changed in Thailand in recent history and how it has grown and shifted. An example is the use of live webcam streaming of child sexual abuse, or the way that tourism booms have increased demand for sex trafficking).

• This source will serve as a central support for any additions I make regarding the sex trafficking of men and boys, including major language changes I hope to make for this article (including the title) • The article highlights the epidemic of sex trafficking of men/boys in Chiang Mai specifically, which is where my PE is located. I look forward to reading this further and learning more about the intersection of the setting and issue in which I will be working.

Summarizing and Synthesizing

For article 2 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_trafficking_of_women_and_children_in_Thailand

Sex trafficking of men and boys

Demographics

(potentially more broadly in regards to all people involved in Thailand's sex industry, hard to pin down because statistics are so unreliable in this issue)

Patterns of Human Trafficking

Bars/nightlife, brothels, massage parlors, webcam exploitation (especially prevalent in the trafficking of young children)

Health Risks for Victims

HIV/AIDS is especially prevalent in cases of male sex work and trafficking.

New sources to use

HIV/AIDS among Thailand's kathoey or "ladyboy" population of trans women who work in the sex industry, and nightlife/entertainment more broadly

Book excerpt, a reading from my GPP area elective class (GS 150Q) - background information on kathoeys and their roles in Thai society and the entertainment and trafficking sphere more specifically

Paper of the needs of male sex workers, addresses how stigmatization is reflected in legal and social support services, as well as broader social views of men in the sex industry. Interesting perspective on the issue of invisibility, also includes criticisms of existing legal frameworks and lists activism successes (who is doing this right? or at least heading in the right direction?) I don't like how this article pits male sex worker advocacy against the "radical feminist agenda." The tone fosters an air of animosity against radical feminists that is not ultimately productive in my opinion.

Delves into the complex stigmatization that renders men and boys invisibile in the global conversation around sex trafficking. Also has a section on "institutional barriers to protecting male victims" that could be interesting in understanding the stigmatization in a more concrete way-- how does it manifest itself not only in the absence of conversation, but in the presence of frameworks and social/legal practices?

Problems I am running into:

Overall, I am struggling to prioritize what information to include. I don't want to leave out anyone's story, struggle, or experience in the process of trying to give visiblity to a group that is so often ignored by the very movement that strives to help them.

1. If I add "too much" information on the vulnerabilities, stigmatization, and specific risks male victims face, will that "outshine" the information on female victims and render their experience invisible in the process? I want to add detailed, evidence-supported information that is as specific as possible to boost credibility and the level of the knowledge base on wiki in relation to men/boys in this issue more broadly. How do I do so without taking up too much space or distracting from other, equally important, facets of the issue?
2. Some scholars criticize the academic publications that exist around men and boys in the sex industry for focusing too heavily on HIV/AIDS and presenting them as living health risks to society rather than victims who need the same legal, psychological, and social support services as everyone else. If I add information on HIV/AIDS in the male victim population is that perpetuating this problem?
3. If I delve too deep into information on the kathoey population, as an example of a specific subgroup facing specific vulnerabilities, does that detract attention from the other victim groups not involved in the entertainment industry? Also, does that blur the lines too much between sex trafficking and sex work more broadly? Not all kathoeys are victims of trafficking, by any means.

Working article drafts:

Sex Trafficking in Thailand

Sex Trafficking of Men and Boys in Thailand

Men and boys are trafficked for sex in Thailand as well as women and girls. While largely denied victim status by the Thai government and global anti-trafficking movement more broadly, they are exploited in similar ways to female victims, yet face specific sets of vulnerabilities. Central factors that contribute to a male's vulnerability to being trafficked for sex in Thailand include national and ethnic background, citizenship status, substance abuse, family financial status, employment history (specifically in the sex industry), and local law enforcement practices. A large number of male sex workers in Chiang Mai are migrants from Myanmar or neighboring hill tribes in the North of Thailand, and because the government will not grant them citizenship, are forced to pursue employment in the informal labor sector, where they become highly vulnerable to both sex and labor trafficking. Men and boys who are involved in the sex industry in Thailand generally work in massage parlors, show/KTV bars, or as '"freelancers" in a variety of establishments, and a 2017 study on the prevalence of men working in Chiang Mai's sex trade found 80% of respondents to be between the ages of 15-24. Studies have shown strong correlations between ethnic background and the area of the sex industry in which a given male works or is trafficked-- in Chiang Mai, for example, the majority of Burmese migrant men working in the commercial sex trade operate out of bars and nightclubs, while those from Thailand's hilltribes and other parts of the rural North tend to staff the city's massage parlors. Many men and boys from these ethnic minority groups are drawn into the exploitative sex trade due to the low wages and discrimination found in other, more formal sectors of the economy (such as construction or factory work).

Few legal or social services are available to the men and boys involved in Thailand's sex industry, and they are subject to complex social stigmatization surrounding denial of male victimhood, and discrimination against migrant/stateless status, ethnic background, language spoken, literacy/education level, and sexuality.

Recognition of Males in the Global Fight Against Trafficking (adding this section to "Sex Trafficking in Thailand" page and "Sex Trafficking" page)

The lack of conversation, advocacy, legal/social support services, and academic work around the sexual exploitation of males can be traced to larger social discourses surrounding male sexuality, dominance, and behavior. Media representations of masculinity and sexual dominance contribute to the idea that men cannot be victims, especially in regards to sex-related crimes. The lack of public knowledge and attention to male victimhood and vulnerability is strongly reflected in the quality of services and strength of legal frameworks available to male victims of sex trafficking . Experts describe this "perceived agency and resilience in young males" to be a strong force in deterring male victims from seeking the support they need, and discouraging male-inclusive anti-trafficking service networks from forming in the first place. Within the spare social support frameworks for male victims that do exist, the specific vulnerabilities of different populations-- regarding nationality and migration status, sexual orientation, drug use, socio-economic status, and health status-- are often unaddressed, leaving crucial groups' needs unmet. The double stigma that surrounds male victims of sex trafficking, involving homosexuality and sex work more broadly-- makes it incredibly difficult for male victims to come forward and seek help, or even to self-organize. Male victims are often legal targets for arrests for prostitution, and face higher rates of police violence and brutality than female victims in regards to contact with law enforcement.

Some scholars criticize the academic publications that exist around men and boys in the sex industry for focusing too heavily on HIV/AIDS and presenting them as living health risks to society rather than victims who need the same legal, psychological, and social support services as everyone else.

Thailand

Informal Economy

History of Thailand's Informal Economy

Thailand has an incredibly diverse and robust informal labor sector-- in 2012, it was estimated that informal workers comprised 62.6% of the Thai workforce. The Ministry of Labor defines informal workers to be individuals who work in informal economies and do not have employee status under the country's Labor Protection Act (LPA). The informal sector in Thailand has grown significantly over the past 60 years over the course of Thailand's gradual transition from an agriculture-based economy to becoming more industrialized and service-oriented. Between 1993-1995, ten percent of the Thai labor force moved from the agricultural sector to urban and industrial jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector. It is estimated that between 1988-1995, the number of factory workers in the country doubled from two to four million, as Thailand's GDP tripled. While the Asian Financial Crisis that followed in 1997 hit the Thai economy hard, the industrial sector continued to expand under widespread deregulation, as Thailand was mandated to adopt a range of structural adjustment reforms upon receiving funding from the IMF and World Bank. These reforms implemented an agenda of increased privatization and trade liberalization in the country, and decreased federal subsidization of public goods and utilities, agricultural price supports, and regulations on fair wages and labor conditions. These changes put further pressure on the agricultural sector, and prompted continued migration from the rural countryside to the growing cities. Many migrant farmers found work in Thailand's growing manufacturing industry, and took jobs in sweatshops and factories with few labor regulations and often exploitative conditions.

Those that could not find formal factory work, including illegal migrants and the families of rural Thai migrants that followed their relatives to the urban centers, turned to the informal sector to provide the extra support needed for survival-- under the widespread regulation imposed by the structural adjustment programs, one family member working in a factory or sweatshop made very little, and scholars argue that the economic consequences and social costs of Thailand's labor reforms in the wake of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis fell on individuals and families rather than the state. This can be described as the "externalization of market risk," meaning that as the country's labor market became increasingly degregulated, the burden and responsibility of providing an adequate livelihood shifted from employers and the state to the workers themselves, whose families had to find jobs in the informal sector to make up for the losses and subsidize the wages being made by their relatives in the formal sector. The weight of these economic changes hit migrants and the urban poor especially hard, and the informal sector expanded rapidly as a result.

Thailand's Informal Economy Today

Today, informal labor in Thailand is typically broken down into three main groups: subcontracted/self employed/home-based workers, service workers (including those that are employed in restaurants, as street vendors, masseuses, taxi drivers, and as domestic workers), and agricultural workers. Not included in these categories are those that work in entertainment, nightlife, and the sex industry. Individuals employed in these facets of the informal labor sector face additional vulnerabilities, including recruitment into circles of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

In general, education levels are low in the informal sector. A 2012 study found that 64% of informal workers had not completed education beyond primary school. Many informal workers are also migrants, only some of which have legal status in the country. Education and citizenship are two main barriers to entry for those looking to work in formal industries, and enjoy the labor protections and social security benefits that come along with formal employment. Because the informal labor sector is not recognized under the Labor Protection Act (LPA), informal workers are much more vulnerable labor to exploitation and unsafe working conditions than those employed in more formal and federally recognized industries. While some Thai labor laws provide minimal protections to domestic and agricultural workers, they are often weak and difficult to enforce. Furthermore, Thai social security policies fail to protect against the risks informal workers from all sectors face including workplace accidents and compensation as well as unemployment and retirement insurance. Many informal workers are not legally contracted for their employment, and many do not make a living wage. Labor trafficking is also rampant in Thailand, affecting children and adults, men and women, and migrants and Thai citizens alike.