Title: Thai Masseuse in Lincolnshire Expresses Concern over Xenophobic Requests
Jan Raithby, proprietor of a Thai massage business in Horncastle, has shared her distress over regular inappropriate requests, labelling them as ‘racist’ and severely troubling. At 53, Raithby has felt the necessity to display signs at her premises pleading with clients to refrain from negative behaviour. Raithby reports receiving as many as ten offensive calls a week, which she says leaves her feeling ‘nauseated.’ The Association of Biodynamic Massage Therapists has also drawn attention to this problem, stating that professionals from Thailand are often the subject of unjust prejudice.
Traditional Thai massage, renowned for its healing qualities, is being mischaracterised, resulting in Raithby facing harassment. “It’s frightening, it’s not healthy for me,” Raithby asserts. “On occasion, I have to bolt my doors.” Mae Hill, who also runs a Thai massage business in Louth, mirrors Raithby’s concern, as she too has had to deal with bothersome phone calls. In response, Hill has implemented a keyword filter to screen out inappropriate messages, underlining her belief that misconceptions regarding Thai massage are fuelling this issue.
Leslie Laine, a representative of the Association of Biodynamic Massage Therapists, has described such behaviour as ‘blatantly xenophobic,’ attributing it to outdated colonial stereotypes. The organisation recommends those who encounter such harassment to report it to local law enforcement. The Lincolnshire Police express no tolerance for harassment of any kind and encourage victims to report incidents. They hope that as the community becomes more informed about these problems, they will see a change in attitudes and conduct.
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This article material has been adapted by The Lincoln Post, originally reported by www.bbc.com.
