[betraaaus]

This is very difficult to answer as you will see so many contradictions. An easy reply is don't wear tight or revealing clothes as the older generation will think badly of you and some Thai men will think you are "easy" and might want to sleep with you! It depends a lot on where you are and who you are with. In the trendy Siam Square area in Bangkok, teenagers will wear revealing clothes but when they go back home or go out with their parents they will wear different clothes.

At our school, if you come to visit us and are wearing a spagheti strapped blouse or short shorts you won't be allowed in!

[Koayrbzh]

Hello everyone,
I am from the United States. My mother and I will be going to Thailand to visit her family. My mother said that since the weather in Thailand is very hot, she wanted to me wear T-shirts that are loose and comfortable to wear. I, on the other hand, don't like wearing t-shirts that often. Some of the tops that I own are ones that are tight and show my curves. And these are ordinary tops, not even skimpy nor scandalous. Besides the tops, I was going to bring a couple of tank tops and my mother said no way. I like to wear clothes that fit my body and are not loose but my mother doesn't want me to wear something like that in Thailand because some of the men in Thailand like to look at a woman's body in a bad way. Aren't many men like that outside of Thailand, I would think so! My mother is a Buddhist so it could be part of the reason she's objecting to the clothes I will be bringing to Thailand (I'm Catholic; my father is Catholic).

I seen many women in Thailand who wear things that I would never even wear.???

I'm 22 years old, I should be able to make my own choices. But, since I know that my mother cares about me so much and wants me to act like a proper Thai lady, I will always listen to her.

I want to hear your opinions. Is there a certain way that Thai women are supposed to act (such as clothing, manners, etc.)

I was born in the U.S. so that is why I am asking.

Thank you

[Koayrbzh]

Thank you so much for the article. It was very helpful.

The reason I was unsure of what my mother was telling me is because I feel that if I don't wear something that is "feminine", I will feel unattractive, especially in Thailand. There are some Thai women that I have seen who wear skimpy clothes and I feel like men (especially the farangs) are attracted to those type of Thai women. Most of the women I have seen in Thailand are of short stature and thin and I know most of the men like that. I have the opposite; I have the body of an American woman.

[betraaaus]

As you are still online, here is a quick reply. There is an excellent article from The Nation on this subject which you might find useful:

http://www.sriwittayapaknam.ac.th/te.../dresscode.htm

[heennaRaf]

Ya know it is truly amazing how sensual a women can look wearing a T-shirt and jeans, yet sooooo many young ladies feel the need for clothing to show their every shape. Us men really prefer to have alot left to our imaginations lol

You're mother I assure you, if you come back to the forum, is not saying such things because of Buddhism. I am certain of that, it is simply speaking of the era of morals that she comes from. I am not going any deeper on that one

I am happy that article helped you gain a deeper understanding though Good luck with it!