Betel Nut Beauties

Betel nuts are the fruit of a palm plant chewed as a stimulant mostly by long haul truck drivers and working-class folks. Their consumption occurs throughout Asia, but the practice of sellers hiring betel nut beauties - young women dressed seductively to attract customers - became a Taiwanese phenomenon in the 1960’s. The route that took you from the north to the south of Taiwan was lined with small glass booths marked by flashing light signs. Young women would sit inside dressed up in lingerie or sexy costumes. In the early 2000’s as research around betel nuts grew, concerns about their health risks such as cancer increased. Environmental issues from the farming of betel nuts were also raised. But the most stringent regulations were placed on the betel nut beauties’ presentation and dress. Local governments imposed guidelines on how revealing their clothing could be. Some argued that this was to protect the young women from exploitation. Many saw this as a ploy to impose “respectability” on a segment of women usually from underprivileged backgrounds who already faced societal judgment and disapproval for their profession without any consideration for their personal circumstances. Today, very few betel nut stalls still employ betel nut beauties.