Exploring the World of Taiwan's Betel Nut Beauties Through Photography

When Mong Shuan was just 16 years old, she started selling betel nuts from a small stall in northern Taiwan. Betel nuts, a stimulant fruit from areca palms, are popularly chewed by many people in Asia. Mong worked six days a week for three years, earning around $670 a month. She also received a bonus for dressing attractively to appeal to male customers.

Her main task was to prepare the betel nuts by slicing them open, adding slaked lime to enhance the stimulant effect, and wrapping them neatly in a leaf. Mong believed that the betel nuts had to be delicious to meet her sales goals. To attract more customers, she styled her hair in dyed red, wore makeup, and dressed in a schoolgirl outfit inspired by the Japanese anime character Sailor Moon. According to Mong, your appearance is crucial in this line of work.

Vendors like Mong, who left her job in February, are commonly referred to as "betel nut beauties" in the local community. This trend first started in the late 1960s, when the Shuangdong Betel Nut Stand in rural central Taiwan gained popularity by promoting their products through their "Shuangdong Girls" campaign. Fast forward to the present day, and there are now tens of thousands of these brightly lit booths scattered along roadsides and in industrial areas across the island, typically run by young women.

A betel nut stall in Taipei.

A betel nut stall in Taipei.

Constanze Han

Photographer Constanze Han spent a month in 2022 driving down the highway from Taipei to Kaohsiung, meeting betel nut beauties along the way. Her interest in these women goes back to her childhood visits to her grandfather's house on the outskirts of Taipei.

During a phone interview, Han reminisced about her childhood trips and how she loved seeing the betel nut girls. She mentioned that as a child, she didn't fully understand who they were. Drawing a comparison to Amsterdam's red-light district, she thought it was a similar concept.

Christ Stowers Photography

Christ Stowers Photography

Christ Stowers Photography

Related article

While the women in glass booths selling betel nuts may appear scantily clad, it is important to note that this practice is not commonly associated with prostitution in Taiwan. These women typically remain in their stalls, only approaching drivers in their high heels. Despite this, the presence of these provocative betel nut beauties may seem out of place in Taiwan's typically quiet and conservative culture, as Han noted. She aimed to challenge the stereotypes faced by these women through her project.

A seller looks for customers while she prepares betel nuts.

A seller looks for customers while she prepares betel nuts.

Constanze Han mentioned that some people may have preconceived notions about the girls without actually knowing or interacting with them, labeling them as "girls from the wrong side of the tracks." However, Han observed that in reality, the girls appeared to be quite level-headed and responsible.

The photographer, who grew up between Hong Kong and New York with experiences in Latin America, has always been intrigued by the various jobs women do to support themselves, despite the societal judgments attached to them. She drew inspiration from Susan Meiselas, whose photo series "Carnival Strippers" from the 1970s depicted women working tirelessly and for long hours as strippers at carnivals in New England.

"I always find myself drawn to women," Han mentioned, emphasizing her preference for engaging in meaningful conversations with her subjects before capturing their images. She values the non-photographic moments spent conversing, as it allows for genuine connections to form. Han finds that she is more inquisitive about the intricate details of women's experiences through these candid discussions.

Betel nuts are sometimes packaged in boxes featuring imagery of young women.

Betel nuts are sometimes packaged in boxes featuring imagery of young women.

Constanze Han

Changing habits

Han captured the images of 12 women, most of them in their late teens or early 20s. One of the subjects, Xiao Hong, stood out for her more conservative attire as she worked at a betel nut stall in New Taipei City, wearing bright blue gloves. The rest of the women were depicted in the vibrant neon light of their booths or looking out of windows, with one woman’s face distorted by the reflection of the bustling streets outside. Han would spend hours capturing these small, quiet moments that showcased the mundane nature of the job.

Drawing from her background as a former fashion editor, Han’s photos often exude a sense of staging or could easily be mistaken for images from a glossy magazine. Despite this, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining honesty in her work.

The women typically come to work in their regular outfits and then change into more revealing clothes in the dressing rooms, Han mentioned. Some owners may offer incentives for them to dress sexier, but according to Han's research, some of the women would choose to do so on their own because it helps them attract more customers.

One of Han's subjects, Ju Ju, is pictured at a booth in the city of Taoyuan.

One of Han's subjects, Ju Ju, is pictured at a booth in the city of Taoyuan.

Constanze Han

Ju Ju, one of the women photographed by Han, is captured in red lingerie gazing out of her booth in Taoyuan city. Initially, she started selling betel nuts to make ends meet as job options were scarce for a young mother without a higher education. However, Ju Ju has come to appreciate the security of the job. She has been promoted to manage two booths and dreams of owning her own stall one day, according to Han.

YI.ng Lighting Design

Related article

A secretive power plant in Taiwan is now open to the public for the first time, but not as a typical tourist attraction. Instead, it has been transformed into an art space for visitors to explore and enjoy.

Despite this unique use of the power plant, concerns about potential exploitation of women persist in Taiwan. As a result, regulations have been put in place over the past two decades to address these concerns. For example, in 2002, the local government in Taoyuan county enforced a strict dress code for sellers, requiring them to cover their breasts, buttocks, and bellies to ensure their safety and dignity.

Although betel nut has been a traditional treat at important events for Taiwan's indigenous groups, its popularity is decreasing rapidly. The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan has reported that users have a 28 times higher risk of developing oral cancer compared to non-users. In 2018, less than one in 16 Taiwanese men were found to chew betel nuts, marking a decrease of over 43% from 2012.

One of Han's subjects delivers betel nuts to a truck driver.

One of Han's subjects delivers betel nuts to a truck driver.

Constanze Han

Han's photos capture a part of Taiwanese life that may disappear in the future. She wants viewers to see it as something fascinating without being too critical.

She also wishes that her photo series will make people see Taiwan in a new light and spark their curiosity about the country as a whole.

Editor's P/S:

The article paints a vivid picture of the lives of "betel nut beauties" in Taiwan, women who sell betel nuts from brightly lit roadside stalls. It explores the history of this unique profession, which has its roots in the late 1960s, and sheds light on the social and cultural factors that have shaped it. The women profiled in the article come from diverse backgrounds and have varying motivations for working in this field. While some may view their choice of profession as controversial, others see it as a means of financial empowerment and independence.

The article raises important questions about the exploitation of women in Taiwan and the need for regulations to ensure their safety and dignity. Despite the decline in the popularity of betel nut chewing, the presence of betel nut beauties remains a visible part of Taiwanese culture. Through her photographs, Han has captured a glimpse of this fascinating and rapidly changing aspect of Taiwanese society, inviting viewers to reflect on the complex social and cultural issues surrounding it.