On March 3, 2005, I received a call from Mr.Kai,(a former cameraman of CCTV and later of No.7 TV station of Australia) saying that there was a woman who had come from P.R .China and now specializes in helping and giving service to sexual workers.

    As soon as I heard the news, I was too excited. Being a director of documentary film, I know the subject is in very important for a good film and a good subject is half way to success. From my initial preparation of making a film of this subject, three years have passed. I have been making great efforts to find a topic like this, for I know for sure there are some Chinese females who are engaging this line of business.

   By all means, I tried to get connected with those people concerned. I once drove for more than an hour to visit a licensed brothel and an illegal massage parlor and to have talks with some of prostitutes. In order to do away with their worries of being exposed in front of camera, I had made a promise that with some technical means such as putting mosaic on their faces and changing their voices so that they could not be recognized by anybody. And we also pledged to do whatever we could for them. But they wouldn’t allowed to be interviewed

    I think their refusal is quite reasonable. Who would like to have their careen of prostitution being showed on TV?

    Anyway, I felt frustrated. So, I decided to quit.

    However, Wang’s call was just like exhilarant to activate my desire of making a film of this subject. So I delayed no more. And asked Wang resolutely: “Go quickly and get in touch with her as soon as possible and try to persuade her by all means!”

    Wang did his uttermost and made an arrangement that I should meet her at Wang’s.

    In the afternoon of the next day, Wang was driving his Toyota bullet car with me and all his facilities he needed to our destination.

    Usually, I drive the car. But this time, he drove the car instead so that I would have some time on my way to work out a way how to get her trust and persuade her into accepting our interview. I was afraid that my absentmindedness would be dangerous in driving.

    In addition to putting mosaic on her face and voice changing, I thought two things that we would do away with her worries.

    1. We must show our sincerity and our better understanding towards them. Our behavior should also be respectful to her.

    2. The purpose of the film is to introduce it to China the management model of sex market in Australia. Let
China know how some foreign countries manage sex market in order to control sex diseases and some social problems. So that they come to understand my interview is significant and beneficial both to China and its people.

    In my mind, what I wanted to express was decided and formed: I come from China; I grew up in the new society and under the red flag, armed with chairman Mao ’s thought. What I intended to expose was that kind Chinese female was struggling in western society and degrading themselves into prostitutes. The topic like this type would be easy to get passed in China.

    To be honest, western society is far from perfect. But，in the bottom of my heart, women, who degrade into prostitutes for whatever reasons it may be, are surely wretched.

    The documentary should be either what I wanted to express, true to the reality, or suitable to be shown for China’s situation and compatible with the interviewee’s requirement. It was really hard for us to be balanced.

    Then, together with Wang Kai, we reached an agreement, trying to adapt ourselves to possible situation and acting while opportunity was favorable. If possible, we would begin our shooting while we interviewed her. But I was not sure if we could do that.

    As soon as I entered Wang’s home, to my happy surprise that he had set his video camera, microphone and lights ready for the work. I was delighted at the moment, thinking that it would work today.

    I quickly let Wang Yue, another cameraman, set my outfit ready. The two Wangs were getting busy right away.

    The lady, we were going to interview, was Li , who came from Shanghai, one of cities of China. She seemed to be forty with round face and a fair complexion. She was good looking and when she smiled, her eyes and mouth curving up, showing an expression of being accommodating and unrestrained. She was smoothly getting into her role of an interviewee with ease and with light-heartedness.

So, our talk began smoothly:

Jing: Ms. Li, first, could you tell us something about the work you are engaging in?

Li: My work is in the department of sex business, whose work is to help those massage girls, who are Asians. We give them all help they needs, such as required health check, violence they meet, unfair treatment by police and complains of employer. My cell phone is open for 24 hours, ready for instant help.

Jing: Anyone who comes from mainland needs your help?

Li: 90% of those are from mainland. Many of them cannot speak English and further more they are not young. Among them, some are single-parent mothers. So it is difficult for them to find a job. They normally do not work long in this line of business. When they have got enough money, they would either buy a business or go back to China to buy a house there. Whatever they had done before, they are inclined to flaunt themselves in a way when they go back to their hometown,.

Jing: Generally speaking, one can earn 3, 4, or 5 hundred dollar a week. How much one can get for sexual work?

Li: That depends on your skills. The meaning of sex here is quite different from that of China. In Australia, the meaning of the work does not mean sex only; it can mean pure massage without sex. Many customers are single. They are lonely and need someone to company them to have their dinner, or to go out chatting or to watch a film.

Jing: So the charges are different?

Li: That’s right. Some girls are high-leveled, who can provide psychological service, charging 2 or 3 hundred to one thousand dollars a day. Those, who can do a better job, would become exclusive by wealthy people. There are also inferior ones, who are more than 50 years old. Because of competition, the price becomes lower and lower, say 10 or 20 dollars for the service, which was not acceptable before. In those days, 50 dollar was the least. Because some of them are more than 50 years old. How can they earn their money? So they have to low the price. Consequently, the competition becomes relentless.

Jing: Oh, my God! How should they do the work in their fifties?

Li: It is hard for you to find a girl, who is 18 or 20. A girl, more than 30, is regarded as a better one, who can earn 1000 dollar a day. In Southern Australia, the number of customers is limited. They like fresh looks and those, who stay long, become boring and not popular.

Jing: Is it legal to run a brothel in southern Australia?

Li: In Southern Australia, there are few, who run the business with others. They run it individually. There is no law about it. Everybody can do it. Normally, they do the business in their own house.

Jing: In this way, people can not say that they run a brothel. Is this the reason that they run it individually?

Li: Even if the government knows that you do the business, it can’t help it. Because you run it yourself, not hiring anybody. But, if you run it with other people, the government will ban it for one reason or other. If there is one more girl, who is a part time worker, you will not be intervened for your work can help increase employment, and reduce the dole of government. Actually, the government winks at it, or else there would be no department like ours.

Jing: On one hand, the government declares that prostitution is illegal; on the other hand, it provides them with help. Is it contradicted?

Li: It is contradicted. For Southern Australia has not any law concerning prostitution. It can not get recognition by the society. But this business does exist, and so the government needs an independent institution like us.

Jing: When our Chinese initially came here, they cherish a longing for a beautiful life, but what they have to face is a far cry from what they had expected. What do you think, when you get to know our Chinese doing the job? Are you sympathetic for them or angry with them? Or do you simply think that they are degrading?

Li: My understanding is different as time goes on. At the very beginning, I was sympathetic for them. Now, not only being sympathetic, but I come to understand that this is a business needed by the society and that they have the right to earn money by means of their own body. This is a job, like other businesses. I also appreciate them to be brave enough to do it. While doing the job, they help many people, who sometimes have troubles with their family members or a divorce or dismay. So they are not doing the work that is low and disgraceful in the eyes of Chinese. Instead, they are quite helpful to those in trouble. My understanding has gone through great changes. I think I should help them and try to make this business legal together with the effort of the department I work for. Sometimes they are in trouble with business and police will threaten them. Things will become difficult for they don’t speak English, then we’ll come over to help them for we have some connection with police.

Jing: If we have law concerning it, is it required that they should have a medical check periodically? And then pay the tax. I mean some relative law will come into being?

Li: Right, right. Definitely. In this way, they will safe, and so will the customers. They won’t catch any sexual diseases and AIDS. And it is also easy for the government to manage. If it becomes a legal business, they don’t need to be afraid. With the acceptance of society, they can do the job legally. My work is to get their trust so that they can tell me their stories and problems which they don’t tell anybody else. There should be somewhere for them to let out their stories and troubles.

Jing: Do their husbands or boy friends know what they are doing?

Li: Most of them don’t. If they want to find fiance, they would not let them know what they are doing.

Jing: Is there anybody whose condition is miserable among them?

Li : I mean that the miserable is one who, after ten years work, is still doing the work. They have been poor forever. Many of them go gambling. At the beginning, some don’t know how to gamble, but later, they get involved into it because of the pressure and the emptiness the work brings them.  Every night, they get nothing to do and being hollowed they go gambling, hoping that they can win hundreds of dollars and then they don’t need to do the job any more. But the more they put in, the more they get involved. There is no way to get out. Nobody is willing to do the job. They do it for money.

Jing: Do you like the work you are doing?

Li: Of course. It is a social work. Actually, I am a social worker. Right now, I am learning a course, named community education (community training).

Jing: How do you find the work? I have never found the work like this?

Li: You know. I was much attended to my family, being contented with taking care of my children and my husband. I was a good wife and kind mother. But five years ago, my husband began gambling, becoming convicted after losing his money, by cheating insurance company. At last, he had to appear in the court. Then, he couldn’t stay in Melbourne, going to the
South Australia. And then, I got a chance to get the work with the help of a local. In the interview, I told her that I had advantages over others for I had gone through many family problems. I believed that many people, like me, need help. So, I got the work. I began my work as a contract, after many years, I became a normal one.

Jing: The work you are doing is a special one. Among all the subjects, I have done, I haven’t refered to this field. So, could we go with you to the South Australia to make a track recording of your work with our camera?

Li: Initially, I was not willing to be refered to what I was doing. People may not understand me why I chose the work concerning something about sex. I wouldn’t accept an interview if I just began the work. At very beginning, because of my financial strait, I started a massage parlor in
South Australia. I was afraid of any reference to my early practice. But now, I have changed my ideal. Since I’ve got a government work, I have helped many girls. Not many Chinese do the work. Many foreigners (sexual worker) solicit in the public place, which is very dangerous. The massage parlor I was running at that time, at least, offering those girls a shelter to protect themselves. I welcome you to
South Australia to have an interview with me.

Jing: Being sexual workers, do they basically need help from people like you?

Li: Certainly, they have a lot of complain about police. I tell them that if you are wrong, you get caught of employing no-licensed girl. Your employees will be illegal doing the business. The police will often come over for the very reason you make yourself.

Jing: how about those girls who are engaging in the business? Do they get involved in it like gambling? And they can’t get out themselves.

Li: No. Nobody is willing to do it. They do it only because of their poverty.

Jing: The job is very hard and not easy, isn’t it?

Li: I don’t mean that it is hard. I mean not everyone can do it. One should endure great psychological pressure. Like many people say there is love, there is sex.

Jing: Especially for female.

Li: That’s right. They have the job only for money. If it were not for money they should not take the job. So, many of them do it for a short period of time. But, it can’t help for those who become addicted in gambling. They have no way out. Some of them, being realistic, think differently that they can earn money quickly by offering full-service. They can earn 100 dollar for half an hour, 30% of it by the boss and 70% by themselves. Actually, it is just more than ten minutes instead of half an hour. Because the service will be shorter for those who just need sexual service. The customers leave soon after the service. But for those, who need massage, the service will last to the required time. The sexual service will be of more money. It’s true that if you are good looking, you will become exclusive by the man. But you’ve got only one man. Some of sexual workers think that men are stupid. For, men have sex with them and pay the money. What fallacious idea they’ve got.

Jing: But, if you give service to one man, she loves him and he loves her too. But in this work, some men don’t love you, but you have to have sex with them.

Li: But she has many choices, you know?

Jing: But man regards them as a sexual tool!

Li: But, it is the fact that many of them have got their own husband.

Jing: Is it a place where one can find her love?

Li: There is one, who married to a doctor. It is these places they met each other. Doctors are also human being. They also come here. Nothing is wrong with brothels, if it is safe. The doctors, who are single, do have such need, am I right? He, who does not have sexual desire, is not a man. It is the characteristic of human being.

Jing: It is a great difference with that of our Chinese. It is beyond logic to think that way. Chinese regard them as low as being at the bottom of society. If men come to know what they had done before, there is nobody, who is willing to marry her.

Li: They are talking about that sexual workers have the right of being master of their destiny. Being economic independent, they can go around the world. I know some of sexual workers in western countries; they go around the world and do advertisement of their own personal sex service wherever they go.

Jing: Is there a possibility that they would become antipathetic towards men for their experience of sexual work?

Li: Probably. Long work will change them into abnormality.

Jing: But, why would they want to get married?

Li: Because, when people are old enough they don’t need sex so much, what they need most is a mutual understanding, care and help. They are companions. Another reason for a sexual worker to get married is that she wants to marry someone that can help her financially.

Jing: I think the sex is something beautiful. If she’s got no interesting about sex because of doing the job, something beautiful is ruined. It is cruel to her.

Li: I am afraid I can’t agree with you. But I thought this way at beginning. In Western countries, some people think that sexual workers know well about sex. They would have sex with them rather than those who are young. Because they are inexperienced.

Jing: (chuckled)

Li: They are different. This is the way people do it. Sex harmony needs experience. You can’t imagine that why many men would have sex with comparatively senior female rather than a young and beautiful girl. They seek for sexual harmony.

Jing: So it needs a lot of skills.

Li: If you do the work well, you must have some knowledge about psychology. When there is a customer, you must figure out how much you can get from your service. They charge differently. To charge a customer involves a great technique. Here, not everybody can get well paid. You’re being young is not all. Being young, one can get only 5 points, but we need 100 points. The technique in speaking is also very important.

Jing: Do sexual workers, especially those from mainland, think themselves degrading?

Li: They think so at the beginning. So most of them do not do sexual service, they do massage. But as time goes on, the effect of money grows and becomes irresistible. They come to think that it is not something bad. What they do is to offer customers a service. They pay for it. That’s all. Many customers are gentle and polite. They would leave with the words “thank you, I am very happy now. Doing away with pressure and strain I am refreshed now”. So, men need sex, without it, they may have some problems.

Jing: But in my impression, which may come from some movies, those going to brothels for letting out their grievances are of violence and abnormality. They enjoy sexual torturing.

Li: In Australia, going to message parlors or brothels is just like going for a sauna or a swimming pool. Most foreigners are bachelors, who think that they need the service. They go there for sex while Chinese have masturbation themselves. They also think that having sex is an enjoyment. So they are willing to pay for the service. When they go there they often go with some presents or flowers for girls there. Buying flowers for them means they love them. The girl’s  notions will change. They think they are of value and think that they are of importance. Most of them, after they get married, they have taken care of their husband and been with them all the time. But, at last they get divorced. After they do the job, they find that they get respect from many people. Of course, there is someone, who is very mean sometimes. But, 90% customers are good. Among them, there are lawyers, accounting executives and teaching staff of university.

Jing: Is there any difference between east and west culture? In western culture, people respect each other and are of gentleman. Do Chinese respect sexual workers while they are serviced there?

Li: Asian customers pay much more attention to those, who are young and good-looking. They go there totally for sexual enjoyment. 

Jing: Do they need sexual harmony?

Li: They do. But, for them, the most important thing is physical and sensual enjoyment. Even if some of them are too old to have sex, saying 60 or 70 years old, they prefer to have service of young workers. They think the service should be the match of the money they pay. This is quite different from the idea of westerners. Many of westerners don’t choose ladies, they come only for sex, they may tell you that they have wife, who have no sex with them at all. They don’t get divorced with his wife because they have their own business. It’s not easy to get divorce with the loss of property. So, going to the message parlor is the better way.

Jing: Do Chinese sexual workers have any preference, do they like to serve westerners or Asian

Li: They would rather serve westerners. They don’t like to meet Chinese.

Jing: Is it because they feel embarrassed when they meet their countrymen or some other reason?

Li: If they get a family there, they would be afraid of being recognized. But, the very reason is that Chinese is very fastidious, further more they are not inclined to pay more. However, they would ask you to do whatever they want, thinking that they paid the money. It’s really hard to serve them. While westerners are different, they respect you. During the time, they regard you as their girl friend. Some of the girls would even say, after the service, this guy is so nice and so forth.

Jing: And then, may I go deep about this?

Li: You’re welcome.

Jing: Do they have climax when they have sex with westerners?

Li: Sure, they are sure to feel that way. She is human being. If she meets a nice man, she can earn much money while enjoy sexual entertainment. And then, she would say that she’d never reached climax when she was with her husband. But this man gives her. So she thinks she is a real woman. That’s true. Many of them were disdained by their husbands. You know, Chinese have different judgment of beauty. Those, who are not nice or even ugly in Chinese’s eyes, are beautiful in westerner’s eyes. Many of them have found their true love.

Jing: It’s really strange!

Li: You know, because of the working experience, those massage girls are richer in their life experience. They are experienced in looking for their true love. They are not easily emotional, instead they are perspective. As time goes on, some of the customers come to realize that our girls are really kind and that Asian girls do the job for her family and not for drug. Westerners value this greatly, because few westerner sexual workers do it for family, they do it for themselves. Those, who like Asian, will pay more attention to their cultural virtues of being industrious and plain.

Jing: Apart from the work in southern Australia, do you go other places on business?

Li: Last year, I went to Sydney for the conference of concerning sexual workers, It was for the states of all
Australia. We had some guests from Hong Kong and
Thailand. We had conference for 5 days, exchanging working experience. According from the data of AIDS in
China, the rate of Chinese who come down with the disease is very high. The Data is even more accurate than that issued by Chinese government. We have a set of video tape concerning how to use condom safely. Every one might say he can use it. But, can you tell me how to use it completely and safely? I work on Thursday and Friday On Thursday, I am in the office to receive phone call and on Friday, I go out, visiting those girls to see what they need and have a talk with them. We deliver something they need free of charge, such as condom and massage oil.

Jing: Do you instruct them how to protect themselves and have sex safely?

Li: We have some Chinese material or pamphlets for them and do some teaching without any pay. If a new girl gets into the business, we teach them how to free themselves from being pestered by some customers and how to deal with violence. That’s to teach them how to work safely.

Jing: Another question is that whether you teach them how to do a good sexual service, some skills in sex.

Li: We teach upon their requirement. I myself learn it from my boss, after I begin the work.

Jing: Are their sexual skills better than other people, who are not trained?

Li: Normally, that’s true. Many Asian, including Chinese don’t ask these questions. It is Thai, who ask a lot. They ask questions directly. I am the one who trust me most. Sometimes, they are jealous each other. They don’t teach each other. Because, if they do，customers will drain away from her.

Jing: So your work is very trivial?

Li: That’s right. Sometimes, I am faced with difficulty of how to get their trust.

Jing: Then how do you get their trust?

Li: When I was recruited in the sexual department, they could get in the business of massage parlors run by Asians. Many Asians can’t speak English. Those, who can, don’t understand us, thinking we come to collect something for the government. I should explain to them that ours is an independent institution. We come to help you and do no harm to you. If the police are coming, you put our name card on the desk. They will act according to the regulations concerned, for they know that you have some official connection with us. We can offer accurate information.

         When the interview is over, I subconsciously let out a sigh of relief and saying to myself “well-done”

    By the night, something comes up, which makes it hard to be continued, for in this section, what I want to describe is that how Chinese women are driven to prostitution in western society, as is so .far away from what we are talking about with Li  today. The fact we get from her is that after they become sexual workers (from now on, I quit to use words such as whore, prostitute and prostitution, which are of discrimination); they become economically independent and find their love in such a place. They also learn how to control man’s psychology. It seems that this is a good way for those, who are deserted by their husbands and fall into financial strait.

    From Li ’s long talk, I cannot feel the least sufferings and bitterness of those, who are engaging in this line of business. She repeatedly convinces us the work’s being rational and required in the society.

    If we do the film in this way, as soon as it is introduced to the mainland, it would be banned.

For this reason, I have to edit this material for audience. For who knows which part will be cut by the censor. I can’t help by then.

copyright 2007  Jing Chen all rights reserved