This is definitely a unique social phenomenon worth noting... All over Taiwan, especially in more rural areas, betel nut stands like this one abound. (Disclaimer: I haven't seen any in the city streets of Taipei or Hsinchu). A skimpily-dressed young woman sits on a stool in a small glass-enclosed neon-lit room, preparing betel nut for sale, or doing something to her face (hair removal, makeup application, pimple treatment, etc). In order to show her bikini and her back, some of the stands even have full-sized mirrors on the back wall, exposing both her front and her back to the street and onlookers. This one is dressed much more modestly than some of them are.
I brought this observation up in my Language and Gender class, and students told me that the "preferred customers" of these stands get to see more than we see, and if you are really a gold- or platinum-level customer, you may get to touch.
Pretty harsh!
By the way, they didn't at all like my taking a picture.
2 comments:
hi,
didn't you know the 'betel nut girls" are the Hsinchu's main tourist attraction?
When i went back 5 years ago, it was the first thing my uncle/aunt took me to see. What a sight! It is something you cannot find in Taipei.
-jenny
Hello Syliva,
Did you know that chewing betel is linked to high rate of oral cancer in south-asian countries? Although some say that the association originates from the tobacco in betel quid, there are studies saying that the nut itself is carcinogenic. This is very very sad that they still advertise it so strongly... very sad.
Tara
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