Reply #1 DArtagnan's post
I had a book about Thai culture that went into some of this, but unfortunately it is in the States, so I can refer to it,but from my recollection and experience with Thais here is what I know.
There are actually different levels of people you have affairs with:
1. Kwai - (buffalo) This is someone you know that you aren't interested in dating, but have sex with.
2. Geek (not sure of the spelling, but that is how you would say it) This is best described in Western terms as "friend with benefits". Someone you do like, but don't want to have a full relationship with. With Geeks and Kwais there are no financial obligations usually.
3. Mia Noi (minor wife) - This is another woman- "mistress"- that the man has a relationship with. It usually would entail financial obligations. I think as the article above stated, the main wife, may or may not know about the mia noi. One other note: when I asked questions about this and used the term "mia noi" I was told that term has a derogatory meaning and that I should use another term. I think it used the word "panraya", but I forgot quite a bit of my Thai.
I had a Thai co-worker whose father had an affair with another woman. She seemed more upset that the other woman was Burmese (or from Burma- may have been a different ethnic group), than the fact he had an affair. Most of the Burmese are looked down upon in Thailand; it would be similar to someone here looking down on an Indonesia or Filipino because they typically have a lower station in life. (Note: those aren't my feeling, but trying to give context.)
Historically, "minor wives" and mistresses have been fairly common in Thailand. Thailand's sex trade is usually thought of something for foreigners, but it was and is not uncommon for Thai men to use brothels, sex massage, etc. | |
