Sociocultural aspects

As stated above, it was apparent that negative perceptions towards beach boys are created mostly based on sociocultural factors, such as beach boys’ appearance, drug addiction, sexual behavior and nature of their work (unemployed).

Region ‘Bad’ ‘Not bad’ ‘Good’ ‘Both

good &

bad’

‘Exactly don’t know’

Hikkaduwa tourism sector

6 (14%) 2 (5%) 27 (64%) 7 (16%) -

Hikkaduwa non-tourism

24 (32%) 37 (50%) 6 (8%) 6 (8%) 1 (1%) Southern

Region

66 (57%) 32 (27%) 3 (3%) 7 (6%) 8 (7%) Colombo 60 (52%) 36 (31%) 6 (5%) 8 (7%) 6 (5%) Cities in the

Mid Island

31 (69%) 9 (20%) - - 5 (11%)

Residing Overseas

14 (35%) 20 (50%) 4 (10%) 2 (5%) -

General Public all

171 (54%) 97 (31%) 13 (4%) 23 (7%) 19 (6%)

1.2.1.1 Appearance

Irrespective of the perception, the majority of people have asserted that, a beach boy is a different person from the general society especially because of their appearance.

Various hairstyles (long hair, colored hair) and different fashions (pierced ears, tattoos, various accessories) were frequently highlighted when describing beach boys’

appearance. However, it can be said that some assumptions about their appearance are not accurate, as discussed in chapter four where most beach boys were noted as having long or/and colored hair, and pierced ears.

1.2.1.2 Drug and alcohol addiction

Most of the people who perceived beach boys negatively have stressed that beach boys cause an erosion of culture and social corruption, mainly due to their drug addiction and different sexual behaviors. With regard to drugs, it is marijuana (weed), which is generally taken by beach boys and the local term used in Sri Lanka is ‘ganja’.

But, ‘mal’, ‘susthi’ and ‘joint’ are also equivalent colloquial terms. As far as beach boys in the sample (27) are concerned, 25 of them acknowledged they have tried ganja, and all of them stated that they have tried alcohol. Among them 11 stated that they smoke ganja at least once a day, but their habit has not been an obstacle in leading their day-to-day life in the community and at home, and in carrying out their work in tourism. There were two boys who asserted that they started to smoke ganja in order to get rid of the habit of smoking cigarettes, as they believe cigarettes cause more health problems than ganja. However, when they are occupied with working they do not get much time to smoke, but when they are out of work and when they are chilling out with tourist friends and peer groups at night, ganja is also circulating with a glass of drink.

1.2.1.3 Sexual behavior

With regard to beach boys’ sexual behavior, 21 of them asserted that they have had or already having sexual relationships with female tourists. Although some people have mentioned beach boys are engaged in homosexual activities with tourists and cause child abuse, none of the beach boys accepted such behaviors.

However, culturally and socially accepted norms about virginity and premarital sex can be considered as main reasons for beach boys been offended for their sexual behaviors. Especially after attaining puberty, a girl/daughter is protected by parents, elder siblings, and even by relatives and neighbors until she leaves home after marriage.

The basis of this concept includes protecting virginity or refraining from premarital sex as well. Although this affects both males and females, females are strictly scrutinized,

as there is a ritual of checking virginity by examining the blood drops released in the first sexual intercourse of a woman. For example, on the night of the honeymoon, the husband may check it and the next morning the groom’s mother and female elders may also check white bed sheets for drops of blood.

Table 5-6: People’s Perception of Sex Related Matters

Although the country is widely opened to the globe, still there are many people who stick to social values embodied with its culture and religions. In discussing people’s attitude to tourism, Ratnapala (1984) indicated that some people consider even kissing on the lips in public as ‘indecent exposure’. This kind of attitude has not considerably changed during the past three decades. Although some people (specifically the young) with different views can be seen, according to the table 5-6 it is apparent that the concept of protecting virginity is still remaining as a sociocultural value in the general society. More than half of the people in each region have noted premarital sex is not good, and almost 70% of them claimed that they do not like to marry a person who has had sexual intercourse before marriage. In this case female respondents were stricter about virginity than males regarding both themselves and male partners. There were girls who were stating that ‘we have to remain as a virgin because of our culture, unless it’s ok’. While stating premarital sex is ‘ok’, there were some men who claimed that they do not like to marry a girl who had already sexually engaged with another man.

‘Fear of STD infection’, ‘hindrance to maintain a trustworthy marriage life’, ‘it’s an act against cultural norms and social values’ were frequently given reasons for their opinions.

However, overall 70% of them opposed the ritual of checking virginity claiming that

‘it’s not reasonable for females as there is no way to check male’s purity’, ‘marriage

Hikkaduwa Tourism (42)

Hikkaduwa non-tourism (71)

Southern Region (86)

Colombo (79)

Cities in the Mid Island (44)

Residing Overseas (54)

Total (376)

Premarital sex (No)

23 (55%) 47 (66%) 61 (71%) 48 (61%) 35 (80%) 31 (57%) 245 (65%) Marry a

person already had sex (No)

26 (62%) 53 (75%) 69 (80%) 53 (67%) 36 (82%) 31 (57%) 268 (71%)

Checking virginity (Yes)

11 (26%) 21 (30%) 29 (34%) 19 (24%) 21 (48%) 12 (22%) 113 (30%)

Prostitution (No)

19 (45%) 42 (59%) 57 (66%) 39 (49%) 30 (68%) 22 (41%) 209 (56%)

virginity when doing sports and there are some who do not release blood in their first intercourse’. But, 30% have still responded that the ritual of checking virginity should be retained in the society as it will deter girls from engaging in premarital sexual intercourse, and that will preserve both the traditional social values and the marriage life.

Hence, it can be said that the majority of general society do not accept beach boys’

sexual relationships with female tourists, and some consider them as deviants or male prostitutes. However, it became clear that most people in the general society did not know about beach boys’ international marriages, and about the people who have improved their life conditions. And specifically in the previous chapter, it was revealed that the relationship between beach boys and female tourists is not purely sexual.

In contrast, there were some people who have open views about ‘sex’ despite general socio-cultural frames. Specifically there were young men who responded by saying that they have experienced sexual intercourse; therefore they do not expect girls to be a virgin as well. Some asserted that every man watches pornography so that almost all men have various sexual fantasies, and most of them are curious to experience those things. Therefore, almost all young men experience sexual intercourse before marriage with their girlfriends or experience some other women through consensual sex or by visiting a prostitute. Similarly, there were some girls who mentioned that they have had sexual intercourse, but most of them claimed that their first sexual contact was with their boyfriends.

1.2.1.4 Unemployed?

Moreover, many people who perceived beach boys negatively have stated that beach boys are ‘unemployed’. In addition, most people have described beach boys as

‘rasthiyadukarayo’/‘loiterers’ based upon their appearance, and stated that they do nothing other than wandering at the beach.

But as previously discussed in chapter four, almost all beach boys are engaged in some kind of activities in the tourism sector. Although it is not permanent work, which offers a fixed income, it was revealed that beach boys earn more money compared specifically with the low skilled and low educated young men in the general society. For instance, 78% of the population in Sri Lanka is in the rural sector, which recorded as 15.7 million, and 5% in the estate sector. Population in the urban sector is only 3.6 million (17%). In 2012 per capita income in Sri Lanka was Rs.11,932 per month.

Among above 3 sectors, the urban sector recorded the highest mean per capita income showing Rs.17,150 (Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 2012/13). But, it was apparent that on average, beach boys earn more than Rs.30,000 per month in the tourist season, which exceeds even the per capita income of urban sector. Further, it was revealed that after the cessation of civil war, a considerable number of tourists visit even in the off-season (ラナシンハ、2012), and some beach boys have found jobs in newly

constructed beach resorts in East coast (Arugambay) as well. Therefore, they manage to earn some money even in off-season although it will not be the same amount as in on-season. Thus, even when compared with the table 5-7, it can be said that beach boys also earn an average income just like the other people in general society. Therefore, they cannot be simply referred to as ‘unemployed’ or ‘rasthiyadukarayo’.

Table 5-7: Average Monthly Income Receiver’s Income – 2012

Source: Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 2012/13

Moreover, some of them illustrated that beach boys have no future plans and so that they often try to get short-term benefits. But, analysis in chapter four confirmed that the majority of them have a life goal of migration and become successful like former beach boys. Although some people assumed beach boys go after easy money, easily migrate with the help of a tourist, and depend on tourists throughout their lifetime; it was revealed that specifically former beach boys have worked hard to gain what they possess today.

However, there were some people who claimed beach boys are bad, only because they are not accepted by the wider society. Having analyzed people’s negative perceptions towards beach boys, it was apparent that the majority of people have considered beach boys as ‘deviants’ from general social frames and values, in terms of their appearance and their activities (drug addiction, sexual behavior and perception as they are unemployed). But, ultimately it becomes apparent that most people do not exactly know the real situation with the life of a beach boy, his view of life, his motivations and his goals. Especially most people in outer regions did not know about beach boys’ success through international marriages, and such unawareness can be identified as a main reason for holding negative perceptions towards beach boys⁴⁸.

48For instance, although GPC⁸ viewed beach boys and their activities broadly, he was worried about the fact that ‘what would happen if the number of beach boys increase, especially because they cannot continue their work when they are aged’. He did not know much about their international marriages and their success through international marriages. When I talked about my findings regarding their international marriages, he began to see them more broadly saying ‘it’s a good opportunity even for the

Sector Mean Income (Rs.) Median Income (Rs.)

Sri Lanka 25,778 16,210

Urban 36,174 21,000

Rural 24,079 15,771

Estate 15,035 11,440