Data Base

Confidence Comes from Thorough Preparation

Tong Tong, 28 years old this year, works as a clerk. The company's business has been unstable since the pandemic, causing her main job income to fluctuate. Through friends’ referral, she started working at a spa, stepping into the sex industry.

She has experience in spas, hotels, and as a Part-Time Girlfriend (PTGF). Like any service industry, sex work comes with its challenges: difficult employers, demanding clients, and sometimes problematic colleagues. When she needs a break, Tong Tong opts to book a hotel room and wait for clients there. However, if no clients show up, she ends up paying for nothing, though it also means a day off.

At a spa, there's usually business every day, but she has to split the earnings with the boss, resulting in less income. To make more money, she advertises on Telegram for herself and works hard to attract potential clients.

"We in the sex industry have boundaries. For instance, I refuse requests like drinking urine or engaging in sex during menstruation, regardless of the offer. It's important to maintain our dignity."

Her clients range from professionals like doctors and lawyers seeking emotional support alongside sexual services to individuals wanting to address various personal issues.

"Today, the sex industry is more challenging. Agencies or individuals often hire people to write negative reviews over trivial issues, damaging reputations of the rivals. Entry into the field is easier now, attracting younger and sex workers from different countries, including high school students and competitors from Thailand, Russia, Japan etc. You can't expect loyalty from clients. Local sex workers like us are of course affected."

Tong Tong feels that in terms of age and physical appearance, she is not as attractive as her competitors, and that she needs to prepare for a career change. She went to Thailand to learn professional skills like Thai massage and reflexology. With that, she can maintain her confidence.

To outsiders, sex work may seem like easy money, but sex workers actually face as much worry and pressure as others who work for any other socially accepted jobs, if not more. It is not easy to stay competitive for long in the sex industry. Only by maintaining physically attractive and keeping things in perspective can one avoid being phased out.