Nattawut Singkul. Emotion management : fluidity of sexuality and sexual health risk of Laos migrant female sex worker (Saokaraoke) in transnational context. Doctoral Degree(Social Sciences and Health). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2017.
Emotion management : fluidity of sexuality and sexual health risk of Laos migrant female sex worker (Saokaraoke) in transnational context
Abstract:
The research studies emotion and emotion management, sexuality and risks among Laotian migrant female sex workers in a transnational context, using an ethnographic methodology, participant observation, and field study. The fieldwork was conducted for two years during 2014-2016 in a border area in Thailand. The researcher used focus group interviews among 40 karaoke bar workers, 20 in-depth interviews, ten sexuality narrative analysis and 45 ethnographic interviews with local stakeholders, namely: officials, community members, karaoke bar visitors, and nongovernmental organization staff. The research used emotion labor and emotion management by Arlie Russell Hochschild as a theoretical framework in the study, and sexuality narrative-based emotion analysis from the transnational migrant sex workers' (Laotian karaoke bar workers) story. From the findings of the study, it can be concluded that emotions are a necessary tool for Laotian migrant sex workers ("sao karaoke" or karaoke girls) in their work and their everyday lives. Emotion and emotional labor is the medium of exchange with customers, including emotional management, superficial acting, and deep acting in the workplace. Sexuality is used as part of work that is linked to intimacy, satisfaction, attraction, and seduction. There is sexual emotion that fortifies bargaining power and agency among migrant workers, for this reason, karaoke girls have not been entirely commoditized in the sex industry, through emotion management strategies, namely: partner screening, selection, and refusal, prioritizing clients, lovers, or boyfriends, and creating bodily boundaries. Karaoke girls also use emotions associated with sex work, multiple identity constructions, together with using emotions for sexual pleasure and satisfaction from work. Notwithstanding the fact that karaoke girls face poverty and inequality which are primary and essential conditions that drive Laotian migrant workers (karaoke girls) to engage in sex work in Thailand, they are not objectified by men or Capitalism in the sex industry. Karaoke girls maintain their subjectivity and agency as they choose and act throughout the use of emotion and emotion management-- a negotiation strategy and tool for work and lives under the context of survival and sexual health risks in transnational sex work