Luk kreung
Encyclopedia
A luk kreung literally "child half", although understood as "half [a] child", is a colloquial reference in the Thai language
to a person who is of mixed Thai and European origins.
In the mid 1900s, the number of luk kreung increased dramatically in the period following World War II
, with the increasing number of western residents and visitors to the country. Many were the children of American
servicemen who came to the country in the 1960s and 1970s, when there were several large US military base
s in the country. While some of these servicemen formed lasting relationships with Thai women, some luk kreung were the product of temporary relationships with "rented wives" or prostitutes
, a fact which led to some discrimination in that era. Some Thais were also hostile because of the perceived lack of racial purity but most were quite accepting.
In the modern era, many luk kreung are born of relationships and marriages when Westerners come to live and to work in Thailand, or when Thai people go to study in Western or foreign countries. In more recent generations, luk kreung have become accepted and even highly embraced by society, and many luk kreung have carved out a prominent role in the entertainment industry, in which their often fluent English
and their Caucasian features (such as fair skin
, larger or colored eyes and tall physique), which are deemed attractive in Thai culture
, have proved to be advantageous. Much of the Thai population finds luk kreung highly attractive because of these features, and within teenage culture, they are also extremely popular.
Thai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
to a person who is of mixed Thai and European origins.
In the mid 1900s, the number of luk kreung increased dramatically in the period following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with the increasing number of western residents and visitors to the country. Many were the children of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
servicemen who came to the country in the 1960s and 1970s, when there were several large US military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
s in the country. While some of these servicemen formed lasting relationships with Thai women, some luk kreung were the product of temporary relationships with "rented wives" or prostitutes
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
, a fact which led to some discrimination in that era. Some Thais were also hostile because of the perceived lack of racial purity but most were quite accepting.
In the modern era, many luk kreung are born of relationships and marriages when Westerners come to live and to work in Thailand, or when Thai people go to study in Western or foreign countries. In more recent generations, luk kreung have become accepted and even highly embraced by society, and many luk kreung have carved out a prominent role in the entertainment industry, in which their often fluent English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and their Caucasian features (such as fair skin
Human skin color
Human skin color is primarily due to the presence of melanin in the skin. Skin color ranges from almost black to white with a pinkish tinge due to blood vessels underneath. Variation in natural skin color is mainly due to genetics, although the evolutionary causes are not completely certain...
, larger or colored eyes and tall physique), which are deemed attractive in Thai culture
Culture of Thailand
The Culture of Thailand incorporates cultural beliefs and characteristics indigenous to the area known as modern day Thailand coupled with much influence from ancient India, China, Cambodia, along with the neighbouring pre-historic cultures of Southeast Asia...
, have proved to be advantageous. Much of the Thai population finds luk kreung highly attractive because of these features, and within teenage culture, they are also extremely popular.
See also
- List of luk kreung people
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- FarangFarangFarang , also spelled falang, is the generic Thai word for a Westerner. A general term for foreigners is khon tang prathet . There is no expressly negative or positive implication in the word itself. However when it is used along with other words, it can bring a negative meaning depending on...
- EurasianEurasian (mixed ancestry)The word Eurasian refers to people of mixed Asian and European ancestry. It was originally coined in 19th-century British India to refer to Anglo-Indians of mixed British and Indian descent....
- HapaHapaHapa is a Hawaiian language term used to describe a person of mixed Asian or Pacific Islander racial or ethnic heritage.-Etymology:In the Hawaiian language, hapa is defined as: portion, fragment, part, fraction, installment; to be partial, less. It is a loan from the English word half...
- MestizoMestizoMestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
- MultiracialMultiracialThe terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
- Mixed-bloodMixed-bloodThe term mixed-blood in the United States is most often employed for individuals of mixed European and Native American ancestry who are not of Hispanic descent . Some of the most prominent in the 19th century were mixed-blood or mixed-race children born of marriages and unions between fur traders...