"Women-Giraffe" Thailand

Women's Kayan tradition of trying to stretch the neck using many golden rings lasts for centuries

"Women-Giraffe" fled Myanmar's gross military regime, where it is believed that the tradition came to put rings on women's neck. Today, they live in the mountains of Mae Hong Son in northern Thailand with the rest of his Kayan tribe (or Padaung), but the habit of rings continues. Possible reasons that led to the emergence of this custom are many, such as protection for tigers; artifact beauty and submission to men.

However, now the tradition is seen as a tourist attraction. According to some visitors and journalists, the Thai government explores the "Giraffe women" providing allowances for those who keeps the rings and lives in artificial towns created for entertaining. The result is a "human zoo" that takes advantage of these women to make money from tourism.

Despite the peculiar habit, the "Giraffe women" are delicate, beautiful and gentle. In addition, they live simply in villages without comfort and modernity. Children begin to put brass rings around the neck with about five, six years. And as the years passed, more and more rings are added. The ideal number for adult women is 37 rings, which can reach up to 10 kilograms.

The question that arises in the minds of most people is: the rings actually lengthen the neck of women? Not according to the orthopedists, it's just visual illusion. The truth is that the weight of the rings pushes the bones of the clavicle and the rib cage sinks, causing the impression that the neck grew. Women can take the hoops if they want, but they must be careful not to turn the neck sharply because the muscles are weakened.


The custom of "Giraffe women" is a traditional symbol of a tribe, but interest in bill money on the culture of this people affect the perpetuation of these incredible traditions and can lead to the disappearance of them.