The Intimate Economies of Bangkok: Tomboys, Tycoons, and Avon Ladies in the Global City

288 Pages·2004·0.921 MB·English

by  Ara Wilson

The Intimate Economies of Bangkok

The Intimate Economies
of Bangkok
Tomboys, Tycoons, and Avon Ladies
in the Global City
Ara Wilson
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
Berkeley Los Angeles London
Portions of chapter 5 appeared as a slightly diªerent version
in “The Empire of Direct Sales and the Making of Thai
Entrepreneurs.” Critique of Anthropology19(4) 1999: 401–22.
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
University of California Press, Ltd.
London, England
© 2004 by
The Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wilson, Ara.
The intimate economies of Bangkok : tomboys,
tycoons, and Avon ladies in the global city / Ara Wilson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn0–520–23783–8 (alk. paper).—
isbn0–520–23968–7 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Sex role—Thailand—Bangkok 2. Capitalism—
Social aspects—Thailand—Bangkok. 3. Global-
ization. 4. Women—Thailand—Social conditions.
5. Women—Thailand—Economic conditions. I. Title.
hq1075.5.t5 w54 2004
381'.1'09593—dc21 2003012772
Manufactured in Canada
13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04
11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The paper used in this publication is both acid-free and
totally chlorine-free (TCF). It meets the minimum
requirements of ansi/niso z39.48–1992 (r1997)
(Permanence of Paper).8
To Gaye,Nit,and Tang
and especially to Chompoo

CONTENTS
List of Illustrations
ix
Acknowledgments
xi
Notes on Transliteration and Dates
xv
Introduction: Intimate Economies
1
1. From Shophouse to Department Store
29
2. The Economies of Intimacy in the Go-Go Bar
68
3. MBK: The Retail Revolution
and the Infrastructure of Romance
102
4. The Flexible Citizens of IBC Cable TV
133
5. The Avon Lady, the Amway Plan,
and the Making of Thai Entrepreneurs
163
Conclusion: The Intimacy of Capitalism
189
Notes
197
Bibliography
235
Index
263
ILLUSTRATIONS
FIGURES
1. Floating market VD pamphlet 3
2. Sampeng shophouse 6
3. Bangkok shophouses 36
4. Central Department Store logo 49
5. Go-go bar help wanted sign 81
6. Busts of MBK founders 106
7. Tom in the mall 118
MAPS
1. Map of Bangkok 10
2. Map of MBK area 109
ix