Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera
In Taoyuan, Tawian, a betel nut girl stands in the window of the 'Armani' betel nut shop where she works. Seen as something of a cultural embarrassment and now banned from plying their trade within Taoyuan's city limits, betel nut girls still earn more than a teacher's starting salary.
Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera
Shao Le, 20, has two dogs for company in the 'Forbidden City' stall where she works on the outskirts of Taoyuan City.
Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera
Sha Tang, 22, applies make-up while she waits for customers in her betel
nut stall. Tang has worked as a betel nut girl for almost a year in
Taoyuan. Their
revealing attire is really a sales gimmick, although city authorities
are now enforcing a more modest dress code.
Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera
Tang takes a customer's order through a car window outside the betel nut stall where she works on busy Chuen Jr Road. Tang says the work is "easy and fun" although customers sometimes make unwanted advances and occasionally expose themselves to her.
Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera
Tang accepts payment from a customer on a motorbike. She earns around TWD $40,000 per month ($1,350). A university graduate can expect a starting salary of around TWD $26,000 ($880).
Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera
Tang prepares betel nuts for sale. The nuts are a mild stimulant, and are popular with truck and taxi drivers.
Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera
Betel nut customers outside the stall where Shao Lin works.
Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera
Strawberry has been working as a betel nut girl for two months. Her previous job was at a hairdressing salon. 'I'd like to own my own stall someday. The work's great, but when it's cold you feel it and you can't wear much in this job.'
Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera
The women have been working on the streets since the 1990s, wearing less and less clothes to lure customers as competition intensifies.