I watched the documentary, Buffalo Girls, with my parents the other day. It highlights the lives of two 8 year old child boxers in Thailand, Pet and Stam, and their rivalry, which stems from their desire to gain monetary profits from the fight for their families.
Initial reactions? I felt angry with the parents of both Stam and Pet, the referee, the fight organizers, but mostly the government.
I was angry, still am angry, at their parents because while I admire their desire to teach their children the value of hard work and earning the things you want in life, I don't think it should include the destruction of growing brain cells for monetary gain. Child boxing might bring honour to the family, to the winner's community, and money. It seems to be a way of life for many poor families in Thailand. From a distance, it's easy for me, a privileged, slightly middle-class person living in the West, to make judgments on the situation of child
