PROVISO: The following are purely based on my experiences. I do not hold myself out as an expert in Asian culture, history and societies.
Living in Asian countries, I would say that far less drugs and alcohol are used by women in general and in the profession. The laws for drugs are harsh. (I certainly never made an attempt to even score grass. Legal alcohol and betel nuts are enough. The rest, if caught would probably involve deportation and a criminal record)
However, the laws for prostitution in "many" Asian countries are extremely light. I mean, the profession is allowed to flourish basically in prescribed areas as long as it does not blatantly interfere with the community. It seems to be so intrinsically interwoven into the fabric of life as a necessity and not a scourge, dating back to antiquity
And, even in the red light districts, it is made to appear as KTV and tea and coffee houses. Upbringing in traditional Asian societies have health and harmony built into the culture which is drenched in Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, taichi, qigong, vegetarianism (or a lot less meat, more fish, and emphasis on grains as a staple with with beans (often fermented for nearly perfect assimilation, and as a digestive aid and not exasperating) and an abundance of greens, fruits, herbs and plant matter for daily maintenance.)
There is or was for many years the celebration of the "yin" quality of a woman, her servitude, passive and submissive nature, as something that was not unequal to a man's "yang" and more aggressive nature, so she never had to compete with a man like in the western world where there is a desire for women to be equal to a man by aquiring more male qualities. She was confident in her yin force to match any yang force, if allowed the factor of time. She was more delighted to be what she was born and blessed with. It had plenty of value. Although, the male was still allowed to at least appear to reign supreme, everybody knew of the power of the female in the home.
Let's just call a spade a spade, and for whatever reason, western men just love the femininity of Asian women, the suppleness of their bodies and their willingness to allow a man to be a man.
Of course, with the world intermingling so drastically and Asian women partaking in western habits, culture and a diet of hamburgers and fries that would make their ancestors turn over in their graves, their extreme femininity is being somewhat compromised. However, you just can't wipe out 5000 years of DNA with a partial diet of fast foods and western culture.
In the homes of an Asian female, she was taught to respect her elders as those with honor and wisdom. Not as doddering old folks. This translates into how some of these beautiful young asian flowers lavish some of us older guys with warmth and not indignation.
And, money is important in any and every culture. But, a man who has more than enough in asian culture, rises to a god-like status and "to the victor goes the spoils." He certainly would not be denied and respected by a woman many years his junior.
In my years in Asia, I have enjoyed the feminine warmth showered upon me. In more rural areas, the women less exposed to western culture, I have found to be more exquisite. Their simple manners, softness and delicate nature are all the more appealing, but, the gals in Flushing are just fine, also. They are a sisterhood.
I will end it here, offering my opinions. I was offered an invitation by Billy to lay it down. And, I certainly appreciate that, especially "almost guaranteeing" that it won't be thrown into "The Rambling Mugi Musing's Bin." I am sure that many will disagree with me and take umbridge with my sentiments. But, without going into details, I entered into the culture a very long time ago, and knew it when it was more pure and closer to the original and watched the many changes. I have spent time with many of the archetypes of the culture that even many Asians never had privy to. Certainly, I am not the last word on all of this. I just gave my clumsy opinions.
