As the Taoyuan County Govern-ment began recently to enforce its restrictions against "betel-nut beauties," I was pleased to read Taoyuan County Commissioner Chu Li-luan's (朱立倫) sincere explanation ("Vocal critics cover up support for restrictions," Oct. 18, page 8) which made a distinction between betel-nut stand owners and betel-nut beauties. His article pointed out that these women, providers of "sex-fantasy ser-vices," are in fact subject to tight restrictions and control despite the impression of permissiveness created by their line of work.
The more scantily clad a woman is, the more she becomes the subject of a patriarchal society. She may even therefore end up being sacrificed by misguided policy. I strongly agree with Chu's distinction between betel-nut traders and their beauties.
Sadly, the Taoyuan County Government is clamping down on the beauties (the employees), not the traders (the employers). Meanwhile, Chu's statement focuses only on the appropriateness of women's dress in certain places. This is a common blind spot of government in its dealings with the sex industry -- all it sees is sex.
If an employer reduces labor costs by paying less than the standard minimum wage stipulated in the Labor Standards Law (勞基法) should the government intervene with an appeal to the employer or the employees when the latter are willing to accept the money out of a fear of unemployment? The answer is obvious: government should intervene, with an appeal to the employer, not the employees.
The problems of the betel-nut industry will improve if it is allowed to operate in accordance with fundamental commercial principles. We must manage the industry in accordance with the relevant laws, in order to protect legal traders and crack down on illegal traders.
This is straightforward and will produce concrete results, although the administrative process may be complicated. It will also mean that government is targeting the traders. A consensus on how much a betel-nut beauty should wear will always be difficult to secure because of the sheer range of moral standards and social values extant. To handle the issue in accordance with the Labor Standards Law and the Urban Development Law (都市計畫法) would be less controversial.
Government agencies certainly have an obligation to maintain healthy social norms. But, if we put the focus on women's clothing at certain venues and argue that nudity is okay at arts venues but not on open streets, we will simply mislead our youngsters.
We often see Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
The problem of betel-nut beauties lies in the lack of work opportunities for our teenagers, not the clothing of these women.
The problem of the betel-nut industry lies in the excessive planting of betel-nut trees on hillsides, occupation of public land and illegal business practices.
The problem of betel-nut buyers lies in bad working conditions, under which exhausted workers resort to chewing betel nuts as a stimulant.
All these problems require solutions from the central and local governments. They will not be solved by restrictions on what women may and may not wear in public.
Lin Fang-mei is the chairwoman of the National Youth Commission.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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