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August 20, 2007
NYT on Chinese in Africa: Massage Parlors, Ho-Hum
A Saturday NY Times article, "Entrepreneurs From China Flourish in Africa," contained a throwaway reference that deserves some scrutiny in what it says, and the so-what lack of interest of the paper in its implications. The passage (emphasis added):
Today, in many of the countries where the new Chinese emigrants have settled, like Chad, Chinese-owned pharmacies, massage parlors and restaurants serving a variety of regional Chinese cuisines can be found; the Western presence, once dominant, has steadily dwindled, and essentially consists nowadays of relief experts working international agencies or oil workers, living behind high walls in heavily guarded enclaves.
I'm all in favor of entrepreneurs, but let's stop a minute to consider the nature of these "massage parlors." It could very well be these are staffed by therapuetic experts in Swedish, deep-tissue and other types of massage, certified and highly trained in this honorable activity.
On other other hand . . .
. . . based on the Asian massage parlors found in New York, might some of these places be less than reputable? Could they in fact be houses of ill repute, full of terrified women forced into a form of slavery and unsafe sex that most likely will shorten their lives?
Aren't the reporters and editors of the New York Times a teeny bit curious about the massage parlors they so matter-of-factly mention in this very interesting article? I got the feeling that the paper took Chinese massage parlors as just part of the landscape, sort of like gas stations, nothing to worry about.
Unless, of course, your sister or daughter works there. But sexual exploitation just doesn't cause much of a blip when it comes to the journalistic radar screen of the Times in Africa.
Van | 08/20/07 at 06:03 AM | Categories: - Useful idiots
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Comments
You're talking the world's oldest profession here, and I do mean by that, exploiting others.
therapydoc | August 20, 2007 06:52 AM
The idea of a profession is not to exploit others but, to use another cliche, to accept 'the good and the bad and the ugly.' The idea is that there can be a focused relationship which benefits the person served for which there can be some payment which etc.
michael | August 22, 2007 07:11 PM
