Go+Go+Boys+of+Boy+Town+in+Pattaya,+Thailand

By Amanda Nicholson
While male exotic dancers are easily accessible here in the United State, in the country of Thailand they are not. There are not services that openly provide male entertainment for women seeking a night of fun. Women who may be seeking men for Bachelorette or Hen Parties, have to travel to the seaside resort area of Pattaya, Thailand and visit Boys Town. (Satrusayang, 2010; McCamish, 2002). The male dancers in Boys Town are referred to as Go-Go Boys while Male Sex Workers are referred to as Money Boys (Mutchler, 2004).

Why Sex Work?
Many of the men who participate in male sex work as a Go-Go Boy or Money Boys are doing so to support their parents who live in rural parts of the country. Parents in this part of the country expect for their children to support them once they begin earning income (McCamish, 2002). Many of the young men leave their homes in the rural parts of the country and arrive in Pattaya to find work being Waiter Boys, this work eventually overlaps with sex work to create extra income to send home to their families. In some instances some of these young men will not return home if they have not been able to help their families or if they have nothing to give when they do visit (McCamish, 2002). Many of these males come from families of farmers where what they call Bukhun is one of the most highly valued characteristic among farmers. Bukhun as it relates to parent child relationships is identified as Katanyu. Katanyu represents the awareness and gratitude by the recipient of benefits, especially ones mother. Helping their families upholds this characteristic.

The male sex industry in Thailand is largely driven by consumers from industrialized, Western Cultures, men and women alike come for sex tours and will rent out a boy for the time that they stay, their boy is there to be a guide, help with every day tasks, as well as be there for sexual pleasure (Mutchler, 2004). While this industry brings in easy extra money for these young men, there is also a stigma attached to those who are involved in this type of work. Money Boys and Go-Go Boys hold a low social status among the gay Thai community. They are viewed as taking the easy route to earn income, instead of working hard to get an education to earn money other ways (Mutchler, 2004). This type of work is viewed as women’s work and it’s mostly tolerated by the civil society and the government, this is could be because of the tourism and the money that it brings into the country,

Sexual Health
According to Mutchler (2004), Thailand is known for it’s great work and response to HIV/AIDs however not much attention has been given to the Male Sex Workers of the country. The HIV/AIDS prevention services that are given to these men is minimal. While there are condoms provided in numerous gay clubs, many will opt not to use them if it means higher pay for their services. Mutchler also mentions that all of the condom programs in Thailand are geared towards female sex workers so male sex workers may feel as if they are not at risk for being infected with HIV. As it mentions above many of these men come from rural parts of the country, they venture to Pattaya to make money and are not well educated about sexual health issues.


 * Conclusion **

When working with this population it would be important to keep in mind that the culture that they are apart of is collectivist. Many of these men have chosen to be go-go boys and money boys to supplement the income that they already have in order to fulfill their duties as sons and children to provide for those who have provided for them. It would also be important to provide them with resources on sexual health as it pertains to condom use and sexually transmitted diseases/infections.

===Mutchler, M. G. (2004). Money-Boys in Thailand: Sex, Work, and Stigma During the XV International AIDS Conference. Journal Of HIV/AIDS Prevention In Children & Youth, 6(1), 121-128. doi:10.1300/J499v06n0107===