413047-Underground-Commercial-Sex-Economy

Erotic Massage Parlors and Spas
There has been a large increase in the number of Erotic Asian massage parlors and spas opening up in and
around Seattle over the last ten years. There has even been an increase in the number of massage parlors
in the Seattle metro area in the last two years, as illustrated in figure 4.8. Massage parlors and spas are
run differently, depending on the operators’ ethnicity and/or nationality: Vietnamese, Korean, or Chinese.
Women who work in these massage parlors and spas are often the same nationality as the person running
the operation and tend to in their 40s and 50s. Massage parlors are typically marketed as foot massage
parlors, since the law in Washington State does not require a massage license if the focus is on
reflexology. 55 According to law enforcement, it is rare for these massage parlors to offer “full service,” but
will instead offer “happy endings.” Law enforcement shared that Vietnamese-run fronts for prostitution
advertised as massage parlors or tanning salons and will even have a tanning bed in the front window.
They typically do not accept female customers; if a woman were to walk into the massage parlor or spa,
she will be turned away. Unlike Chinese massage parlors, Vietnamese run parlors offer “full service” to
their customers. Korean massage parlors are run similarly to Vietnamese ones in that “full service” is
offered; however, they typically refrain from using the word massage since it requires a license. Instead,
they use terms like “spa,” “tanning,” and “relaxation resort.” The number of Korean “spas” has decreased
since the United States has waived the visa requirements for Koreans trying to enter the country.
Figure 4.8 Erotic Massage Parlors in the Seattle Metro Area
The pricing structure for massage parlors and spas are very similar, with a fee going to the house and the
tips going to the women. The house fee is typically $40 to $60 for an hour and johns will negotiate the tip
with the woman providing the sex act(s), which she is allowed to keep. Tips range from $40 to $60 for
oral sex and average $100 for “full service;” however, all tips are negotiable. Women are required to pay
55 Washington’s Senate Bill 6103, effective on July 1, 2013, requires reflexologists to obtain certification and allows the state health
department to conduct unannounced inspections.
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