Blogs on Teaching and Living in Thailand

First of all, I do not condone or promote any form of discrimination or prejudice based on race or ethnicity. It is important to recognize that privilege or advantage based on race is a systemic issue that exists in many societies around the world, including Thailand.

However, in Thailand, it is a common belief among some locals that white people have advantages in certain areas, including:

Perceived wealth: Some Thais may assume that white people are wealthier than locals or other Asian tourists, which may lead to better treatment in some situations.

Perception of beauty: Thai culture often values lighter skin tones and Western features, which may lead to white people being perceived as more attractive or desirable.

English language skills: Many white people come from English-speaking countries, and some Thais may assume that they are more fluent in English than other foreigners, which may lead to better communication and understanding.

Employment opportunities: In some industries, such as teaching English or modeling, being white may be seen as an advantage and lead to more job opportunities.

When I first arrived in Thailand, I was surprised to see a lot of English language signs and advertisements. I was particularly drawn to the ads for skin whitening products, which I felt reflected Western beauty standards. I recalled a 2010 ad for a skin whitening pill featuring a famous Thai celebrity, who claimed that her fair skin was the key to her success by saying "whiteness makes you win." I was glad to see that there was a social media backlash from both local and international communities. While white privilege is often hidden in the United States, it felt more obvious in Thailand. This made me question whether my opinions were influenced by western ideology and whether white privilege manifests itself differently in non-white countries like Thailand.

I strongly believe that the privilege related to skin color is likely related to social class rather than just skin color alone. The concept of white privilege is no longer relevant, and the term colorism is a more appropriate way to describe discrimination against people with darker skin tones. Colorism refers to discrimination based on skin color that can occur within the same ethnic or racial groups.

I noticed that having lighter skin is associated with a higher social status, representing wealth and intelligence. The concept of social class in Thailand was created during the Ayutthaya Kingdom to maintain power, which may have been influenced by the Indian caste system. In Thailand, social class is not determined by skin color, but rather by one's family background and place of origin. Having fair skin is traditionally associated with coming from a wealthy family, and being able to avoid working in manual labor such as in rice fields. This differentiation is not due to colorism or racism, but rather based on social classes.

However, younger generations are increasingly moving away from the concept of valuing fair skin over dark skin. Nowadays everyone is taught to be equal in Thailand, regardless of skin color.

When schools want to hire someone who speaks the language fluently as a native speaker, a more blatant type of discrimination becomes apparent. A friend of mine recalled working at a school that didn't want to hire black people because they believed the children would be frightened of them. White teachers are favored over non-white teachers in Thailand because there's a misconception that all native English speakers are white.

Foreigners often encounter the problem of double pricing, which refers to charging them a higher price than locals for the same service or product. This was illustrated by an incident where a Thai citizen, who was mistaken for a foreigner, had to pay the higher foreigner price at a tourist attraction on Koh Chang even though she presented her Thai ID card. The pretext for overcharging foreigners is that Thai governmental and private organizations require funding for maintenance and development, and since the Thai government is not financially strong, they must depend on support from tourists to build and maintain facilities and infrastructure for their visitors. In my honest opinion, this still amounts to grave discrimination and just isn’t right.

But what about the people of Thailand, how do they view those with dark skin e.g. black and African people? Some may feel scared when encountering them because they are not that common in the country. This may be due to a lack of education or exposure, rather than being driven by indoctrination or hate, as can be seen in some parts of the West. It remains shocking to still witness situations in modern-day Thailand where all seats on a public bus are occupied except for the one next to an African person, reminiscent of the segregation era in South Africa during the 1980s or the United States during the 1950s.

It is possible for black Africans or people of color to find teaching opportunities in Thailand, although they may have to work harder to secure a job compared to white teachers. The majority of teaching positions are located on the outskirts of Bangkok and beyond. Thai school directors tend to prefer white teachers, but it is still possible for black Africans to find work if they possess a neutral English accent and can teach subjects like math, biology, chemistry, or science at a high school level. African teachers should have had their certificates authenticated, and undergone a police check from their home countries before arriving in Thailand. Many black Africans have successfully secured teaching positions in Thailand, but it may be difficult and require thick skin. Reputable international schools do not discriminate as they value qualifications and experience more than anything else. It is therefore recommended that teachers of color try and apply for jobs there first.

Despite my attempts to comprehend the manifestation of racism and white privilege in Thailand, there is no agreement on whether white individuals are privileged in the country. While some foreigners experience racial discrimination, Thai people do not discuss race in the same manner as westerners. After all privilege in Thailand is determined by wealth rather than race or skin color. Furthermore, since Thailand was not colonized, there is less animosity towards European nations compared to neighboring countries.

Even though the connection between skin color and wealth is fading in Thailand, it remains a matter of concern. Ultimately, the advantages I experience here are probably linked more to my financial status than my skin color, although I must acknowledge that my appearance and ethnicity may still play a role in shaping others' perceptions of my wealth.

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Blog by Dee Parker

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Note that the author of the blog is expressing personal thoughts and musings, which do not necessarily reflect those of KruTeacher. Therefore, KruTeacher.com cannot be held responsible for any potential inaccuracies that may be present in the blog.