Abstract:
The study of discourse on sex workers in Thai society aimed at studying on discourse on
policies related to sex workers in pre-development, development, and present eras in order to find out
context, policy formation, counter-discourse, important discourse actors. The findings revealed that, in
pre-development era, the significant context was that the society was under absolute monarchy system;
feudal system as an important mechanism determining social relations. The important discourse actors
forming policy related to sex worker is the King who played important role in policy formation
dominance of economic thoughts. In this era, the main counter-discourse actors were tax collectors due
to problems related to prostitution tax, causing government's response in form of enactment of
Infectious Disease Prevention Act to centralize the power for the King. In development era, the
important context was the influence of Western democratic system; constitution was an important
mechanism determining social relations. The important discourse actor forming policy related to sex
workers was the government as it established policy related to prostitution. However, problems with
prostitution, although it becomes illegal and prohibited which was different from pre-development era,
the policy was not strictly complied in practice. This caused a counter-discourse to policy related to
prostitution of Thai Government; the main actors were Leagues of Nations and United Nations by
dominating through Western democratic thoughts. Consequently, there were adjustments of laws related
to prostitution to fit in such counter-discourse. In present era, the discourse on policy related to
prostitution is considered and judged based on legal perspective which is an important mechanism of
government policy. In this era, the important discourse actors forming policy related to sex workers
were the Government and its related state power mechanism as it defined, established and implemented
policy related to prostitution. Thai society at present is different from 2 former eras due to rapid and
complicated changes. Consequently, an emerging counter-discourse policy related to problems with
prostitution was according to legal perspective or laws, leading to prostitution policy proposals mainly
initiated by NGO, an important actor attempting to propose new policies related to prostitution in
response to Government measures. As a result, the discourse on prostitution of Thai government is
reinforced in form of several enactments of laws so as to enforce policies and settle issues related to sex
workers in Thai society.