Massage parlor
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A massage parlor is a business where customers can receive a massage. Sometimes the term is synonymous with brothel as the term "massage" may be used as a euphemism for paid sexual favours.
In many countries and regions, particularly in places where prostitution is illegal, massage parlors (as well as saunas, spas or similar establisments) are fronts for prostitution. Illegal brothels disguised as massage parlors are common in the US, UK, Canada, South Korea, Philippines and many other countries.
However, not all massage parlors are involved in prostitution.
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[edit] Rhode Island
The act of Prostitution in Rhode Island is legal "behind closed doors". For this reason, massage parlors, also known as "spas" are known to be involved in prostitution.[1] Happy Endings Documentary explores the Asian massage parlors in Rhode Island, and the debate to criminalize prostitution. [2]
[edit] Thailand
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Even though Thailand is rather well-known for its unique spa experience and particularly healthy and non-sexual traditional Thai massage, this section refers to the most mentioned type of massage parlors when thinking of the term in Thailand, Sexual massage.
The internal traffic of Thai females consists mostly of 12-16 year olds from hill tribes of the North/ NorthEast. Most of the internally trafficked girls are sent to closed brothels, which operate under prison-like conditions. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)
Thousands of women from rural Thailand, China, Laos, Burma and Cambodia are sold to brothels in Bangkok or in other countries by "job brokers," who often operate in organized international syndicates. ("Survival the name of the game," Bangkok Post, 3 July 1998)
One million women from Burma, southern China, Laos, and Vietnam have been trafficked into Thailand. (CATW - Asia Pacific "Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific" (17)
In 1996, foreign women made up the majority of prostitutes in 40 sex establishments in 18 border provinces that are brothels masquerading as karaoke bars, restaurants and traditional massage parlours. In some venues, there are no Thai women at all. (Kritaya Archavanitkul, Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, The Passage of Women in Neighbouring Countries Into the Sex Trade in Thailand, "Academic urges action in war against flesh trade," Yindee Lertcharoenchok, Mukdawan Sakboon, The Nation, 28 May 1997) In mid-1997 an increasing number of young girls, more than 60% of which are under 18 years old, were entering Thailand through Mae Sai checkpoint into massage parlors, brothels etc. (World Vision¹s Bansit Thathorn, the coordinator of the NGO Burmese women, Aphaluck Bhatiasevi, "Influx of Burmese sex workers via Mae Sai," Bangkok Post, 2 June 1997)
50% of the prostituted women in Chiang Rai are Burmese. Thousands of indigenous Burmese women from Shan State in the north and from Keng Tung in Eastern Burma have been sold into brothels in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)
[edit] United Kingdom
In the UK, prostitution itself (exchanging sex for money) is not illegal, but associated activities such as operating a brothel or soliciting in a public place are outlawed (see Prostitution in the United Kingdom). Many illegal brothels are disguised as "massage parlours".
In 2005 it was reported that, in Manchester, there were around 80 "massage parlours" which were fronts for prostitution and that the police ignored those establishments, focusing instead on reducing street prostitution.
On October 12, 2005 the Evening News reported that "A self-confessed pimp walked free from court after a judge was told police had 'turned a blind eye' to organised prostitution in massage parlours in Manchester."[3]
In December 2007 the Manchester Evening News removed all advertisements for massage parlours from its personal columns. The move follows a meeting between ministers and newspaper and advertising industry representatives. It followed comments by Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, in the House of Commons on October 25 that some local newspapers were promoting slavery by running sex adverts for foreign women.
The meeting between the government and news and advertising industries - chaired by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker - included Ms Harman, Margaret Hodge, a junior minister at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Solicitor General Vera Baird, Newspaper Society Director David Newell, Christopher Graham from the Advertising Standards Authority, Baroness Buscombe of the Advertising Association and Roger Wisbey of the Committee of Advertising Practice.
Mr Coaker said after the meeting, on November 1: "We agreed a number of important steps today, and will continue to work together.
"The Government will continue to work with the Police and Local Authorities, and the Newspaper Society has committed to strengthen its guidance to local papers on what adverts to accept, and to raise awareness of this link to trafficking.
"This is just one strand of a range of initiatives, which together will work to eradicate this intolerable trade once and for all."[4]
[edit] Canada
In Canada, operating a brothel or being found in a brothel is illegal, and so is public solicitation (see Prostitution in Canada).
Illegal prostitution does happen in some massage parlors. In Toronto, massage parlors are now beginning to call themselves "holistic centres", and branching out to aromatherapy and shiatsu, but 5% of them will still offer sexual services .[5] Nevertheless, places that offer massages (called "body rubs" in Toronto legal jargon) are licensed and regulated differently than places offering "complementary touch therapies", such as shiatsu, and those who offer these services resent the possibility of being categorized with massage parlors.[6]
[edit] United States
38 states and the District of Columbia require some type of licencing for massage therapists.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Arditi, Lynn (2009-5-31). "'Behind Closed Doors" How RI Decriminalized Prostitution". Providence Journal. http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_LAW31_05-31-09_NVEHGBH_v161.3e90048.html. Retrieved on 2009-07-03.
- ^ Arditi, Lynn (2009-5-24). "Film Chronicles RI's Asian Brothels". Providence Journal. http://www.projo.com/art/content/HAPPY_ENDINGS_FILM_05-24-09_Q9EFHNF_v25.1ecfa95.html. Retrieved on 2009-07-03.
- ^ [unattributed] (2005-10-12). "Police turn a blind eye to brothels". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/177/177492_police_turn_a_blind_eye_to_brothels.html. Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
- ^ http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=39561§ioncode=1
- ^ List of new stories about massage parlors and holistic centers
- ^ "City presses alternative therapists". Eye Weekly. 1997-09-18. http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_09.18.97/news_views/hendley18.php. Retrieved on 2007-01-07.
- ^ Stellin, S. (2007-07-15). "Beyond the Body Wrap: What Makes a Spa Stand Out?". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/business/yourmoney/15spa.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-20.
