Forward - Trip to Chiang Mai

Like any great journey, I went into this one with one clear objective, and probably some preconceptions on what I'd see. Nine days later, I came out on the other end with some perceptions confirmed, but moreover, many surprises, heartache and hope. Chiang Mai is a city of contradictions. Organized chaos. A circus of humanity -- good, bad and ugly. I came to Chiang Mai to learn more about sex trafficking and the issues surrounding the sexual exploitation of women, and came away with a deeper understanding and first hand accounts of drivers, solutions, and the hypocritical nature of mankind. My thoughts and learning's of the issues surrounding sexual exploitation of women and children are weaved throughout this journal, and I'll be posting excerpts from my travels everyday, moving forward, for the next couple of days. I will say upfront that I did not come into contact with any women specifically trafficked for sex exploitation, but rather, women who were forced into a life of exploitation due to lack of choices, education, self esteem and trauma.

Context

Through some research, I've learned that 80% of girls working in the sex tourist industry in Thailand come from the hill tribes in Northeast Thailand. The culture and family value system of these tribes is that boys come first, at the expense of the girls. Boys are often the only recipient of education, often paid by from the girls' income that she brings into the family. Ironic how girls are deemed as not valuable enough to educate, yet they are expected to become the primary source of income for the family. My impression was that girls earn recognition and respect from her family by earning money. Without a solid education, her income sources dry up, and working in the bars becomes the primary "choice" for the girls vs. finding a place of meaningful employment.

I will not use names of the Americans I was working with, the bar girls I met, or the name of the training/support center, to respect the privacy and security of all involved. My entries will be general in terms of names and specifics that could inadvertently exploit the center/girls, but still provide my insights and learning's into the issue. 

While I saw extreme beauty in Thailand, I believe that many parts of the country will remain impoverished until they begin to value 1/2 of their society. As long as women, specifically from the Northeastern hill tribes, aren't valued and given the same opportunities as the men, this society will not reach it's full potential. 

I'll post "Day 1" tomorrow.