Type of Thai Girls Revealed
In this article, I’ll talk about the different class of hierarchy, status, and different type of Thai people in Thailand class system. Do Thais from different social class marry or socialize with other social classes, or do they only marry and socialize within the same class?
You’ll get a better understanding of why Thais have the Sin Sot, which is the dowry system. When the man or the man’s family give money to the woman’s family when they marry. How much should you give?
Thailand Class System: Basic
Ok first off, I want to make it clear to you that this is coming from a subjective point of view. This is from someone who had been traveling and living in Thailand. As well as other parts of South East Asia for the past 2 decades.
I am certainly no expert, but I think I live in Thailand long enough to know other people or other Thais and had asked them many questions over the years.
With that said, this article is basically a collection of people opinions about this topic, mainly views of other Thais and my opinion as an outsider living in the country for many years.
This topic can be a bit confusing for foreigners. Some might not realize that there is such a social hierarchy system or different type of class and people in Thailand.
It’s Everywhere
This is one of those things, not too many people talk about. It is something you don’t really see it, but it is here, it is everywhere.
I’m trying to think of a similar thing like this that you can relate… how about this. I think most of you can relate to this. Ok. So you or someone you know dated a Thai girl, and then, later on, she turns out she cheated on you and stole all of your money. Did you hear of that before, right? Well, then, later on, you found out she’s a hooker.
That’s the unwritten rules with hookers. You just have to know it, it’s not written on a sign somewhere. Does that make sense? Yes?
I think that was a horrible example, but what I mean is that the Thailand class system doesn’t really have a big sign or a tag on each person. You just know and feel it once you live here long enough.
A similar thing happens once you live in a place like Pattaya long enough you get a different sense, a different vibe of things. You get me?
Quick History Lesson
Many years ago, and centuries ago.
Thailand class system used to be base on something like a pyramid. At the top of the pyramid is the King, then below the Royal Family, below that are the nobles, then commoners and right at the bottom of the pyramid are the slaves.
I’m talking about over 100 years ago, and yes, they had slaves back then.
Today, Thailand class system still has the monarchy, King, and Royal family. Then you have the wealthy Thais, but unlike the West, the wealth distribution is more noticeable here.
My Thailand Class System Hierarchy
This is from top to bottom.
Thailand Elites
This is Vorayuth Yoovidhya the grandson of the billionaire Red Bull co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, in a hit-and-run incident in Bangkok, Thailand, on 3 September 2012. His family is currently listed as the 4th richest family in Thailand with an estimated net worth of 12.5 billion USD. Forbes : Thailand’s 50 Richest
These are the billionaire and millionaire. They are also referred to as “hi-so,” I mean the real “hi-so.” Some Thais would still use this term to other Thais who are not really, “high-so,” which refers to them as having expensive taste. But doesn’t necessarily mean they are millionaire or billionaire.
I think, the word “high-so” came from the English words “High society,” in Thailand I believe it means people with expensive style and taste. People who live in big homes or condos, drive fancy cars, super motorbikes, eat at the most excellent restaurants, and influential people. At least this is my understanding of this.
Thailand Upper-Middle-Class
If a Thai makes above 100,000 THB per month ($3,000 USD), I will put them in this category. They would be doctors, lawyers, businessman/women, executives, judges.
Thais inside this group are made-up by mainly highly educated individuals, but not always, and they may be able to speak English. Many of the Upper-Middle-Class has traveled overseas, some lived and studied in a western country.
Most foreign men visiting Thailand don’t usually date or marry these type of Thai women, the same with the Elites. The upper-middle class and Elite Thai women only meet rich Thai men. The average foreign men tend to associate more with bar girls or lower status Thai women and sometimes the middle-class Thai women.
You might say that Thai women are materialistic with who they date or marry, but are they that different from any other women in another country?
Thailand Middle Class
I would say Thais in this category who make around 30,000 THB ($800 USD), or perhaps up to 100,000 THB per month ($800 to $3,000 USD). These would be the professionals, office workers, nurses, IT professionals, managers, small to large business owners.
Usually, Middle-Class Thais finish high school and most studied 4-5 years at the local University.
Thailand Working Class
These Thais make the average income in Thailand, around 7,000 to 30,000 THB ($200 – $900 USD) per month. They are what you call the Blue-collar workers.
The Thais working at 7/eleven make about 7,000 THB per month, not much to do anything with that kind of money.
Thais in this category usually finish high school and maybe even 4-5 years of University if they are lucky.
Thailand Low-Income
They are some of the poorest people in the country. Many do not have a lot of education; some may only have a high school education from the Thai education system. If they work hard enough, or their parents saved enough money, they might be able to afford to go to University, but very few can provide that.
These are the majority of people that I believe work in the bar scenes in places like Pattaya, but not always. Because there will always be the girls who do not want to work and like the quick money. You might find some girls from a working-class family in a GoGo since the money is so good nowadays. The girls in a GoGo can probably make comparable income for the same line of work in the West.
Again, that was my subjective point of view on this Thailand social structure or the Thailand class system. Now some of you might be asking things like, do Thais from different social classes marry or socialize with other social classes? Do they only marry and socialize only with the same class?
Do Thais Marrying Other Thais Outside Their Social Structure?
About marrying other Thais outside their social structure, it does happen often, but usually, it happens within one class difference. For example, a low-income Thai might marry a working-class Thai, and that is normal. This happens all the time, the same with a working-class Thai marrying a person from someone in middle-class Thai.
But what rarely happens is that a low-income Thai marrying an Upper-Middle-Class Thai or Elite Thai. It does happen but super rare mainly because the Upper-Middle-Class or the Elite might fear of losing face for marrying someone from a low-income family.
Why Someone Fear of Losing Face for Marrying Someone They Love?
If you ask, I guess it’s kinda like if David Beckham (let’s say he’s the Elite Thai person) marrying someone from the ghetto (that’s a low income Thai). Similar to a doctor marrying a washroom cleaner. It just doesn’t make sense. Usually, people marry or date other people in the same class because they can relate to one another, and they have the same background.
Another point I want to point out is: most Thai men tend to marry or date Thai women who have the same or lower income than he is. Because traditionally Thai men are supposed to be the leader of the family and he is in charge of the finance. The Thais would consider it strange if a Thai woman makes more money than her man does in the relationship; of course, there is always an exception on this.
For example, perhaps a Thai couple dated each other since high school and they got married. The wife landed a better job with a higher salary than her husband – that can happen.
Reasons Why Thais Have Sin Sot (the dowry system)
This is why they have this Sin Sot, or the dowry system is to avoid the lower class income Thai man marrying a woman from an upper class. Because the man from the lower class would probably can’t afford to pay the dowry.
The dowry system was used when the girl gets married, she will move in with her husband and become the husband family member. Which mean the parents of the daughter loss a family member or a laborer to earn money for the family. That is another reason for the dowry system, for the man to pay the girl’s family for lost wages (similar idea as the bar fine system).
It is also for the payment for the parents who brought up the girl. That cost money for her upbringing.
What About Bar Girls?
Now what you want to hear is, what about those bar girls? Well, if you have money and it doesn’t really matter how old you are or how ugly or handsome you look. The bar girls or hookers are there only for the money. Therefore, you can get those bar girls as long as you have the money.
Most of those bar girls, the Thai men don’t even want. Unless the Thai man is totally in love with her, but her past must be kept a secret. Because no respectable family would accept someone from the adult entertainment industry as their daughter-in-law.
The same thing with socializing – usually Thais socialize with other people in the same class, the same background, same school, but not always.
Similar to what you do back home if your parents are wealthy. They will most likely send you off to a private school where you meet and socialize with other kids with wealthy parents. Similar thing in Thailand.
So what do you think of this article? If you think I left something out or I am wrong. Make sure you leave your comment below. Don’t forget to signup for the email newsletter to get notifications when new articles are published.
