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Me Love You Long Time

For some time now, perceptions of Asian women’s sexuality have become inextricably linked to lurid stories of Japanese businessmen on notorious ‘tours’ of Thai brothels or TV shows depicting wartime Vietnamese women ‘entertaining’ American soldiers. Here in San Francisco, we find these stereotypes perpetuated by the ever-present massage parlor. Certainly, very few walking through the Tenderloin ever misunderstand the purpose behind gated entrances euphemistically advertising ‘Oriental Massage.’

But really, what are these massage parlors? Quasi-legal prostitution, or just titillating good fun? An age-old form of relaxation therapy, or a blight on the community? Who are these women, and why are they here? For an industry so visibly ubiquitous, most of us know surprisingly little about an institution that is such an integral part of how APA women are viewed and treated.

Several years ago while in Korea, I went to visit a friend in a quiet residential neighborhood. Only a few minutes from his apartment was a bustling commercial district consisting entirely of storefronts illuminated in neon-red, openly selling sex with prostitutes. Some of the clientele were American and European; men who enthusiastically spoke of similar areas in the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand. In many towns — particularly around military bases where massage parlors and strip bars thrive — its residents owe their livelihood to the thinly-veiled outlets for the world’s oldest profession.

In this issue, AsianWeek talks to APA women inside San Francisco’s massage parlors to hear about the business from their own words.

Interestingly, I’ve found that there are many people who still seem to have the attitude (even if they don’t always realize it) that Asian women are more easily seduced than their American peers. While massage parlors may not be the only reason for this sentiment, it does contribute greatly to the over-sexualization of Asian women in the United States.

It may not be pretty, but an inescapable reality of the Asian experience are the economic conditions that brought us to America. These experiences, in turn, shape the way Asian culture is imported to the United States –– like it or not, it’s not all Kung Pao chicken and chopsticks… it behooves us all to understand what really goes on behind the doors of this oft-overlooked business.

— Edward Park