The lives of kathoey are not as easy as many Westerners might believe. However, kathoey generally seek male sexual partners who identify themselves as heterosexual and not as gay. Some believe that this higher acceptance is due to the nature of the surrounding Buddhist culture, which places a high value on tolerance.Ī possible explanation for the high number of kathoey is the fact that open masculine homosexuality is a much more recent and less visible phenomenon in Thailand becoming a kathoey might thus be a solution for a number of male homosexuals.
#KATHOEY THAILAND MOVIE#
Kathoey working in regular occupations are however not uncommonĬompared to Western countries, where transgender and transsexuals are just beginning to become visible (and demand their rights), kathoey are much more visible and more widely accepted in Thai culture: several popular Thai models, singers and movie stars are kathoey, and Thai newspapers often print photos of the winners of female and kathoey beauty contests side by side. There are also persistent reports of groups of kathoey working as pickpockets in tourist areas. They can often be found in entertainment and tourist centers, working as dancers, in cabaret shows or as prostitutes. Their makeup, dress and figure is usually very feminine, so much so that the most stunning females in Thailand are frequently kathoey. Kathoey often start to cross-dress, take female hormones and undergo various surgical procedures at quite a young age. Virtually all kathoey cross-dress and undergo hormone replacement therapy most have breast implants some also undergo sex reassignment surgery to transform their genitals and form female ones and other surgical procedures. They are sometimes referred to as ladyboys or as the third sex in Thailand. In Thai television there are characters written as kathoey, however, they are often playing villains. These are examples of how kathoey are still facing obstacles despite some progressive attitudes.Pattaya: Kathoey on the stage of a cabaret showĪ kathoey or katoey (in Thai กะเทย) is a male-to-female transgender person in Thailand. In many traditionalist parts of Thailand there is still some stigma a friend of Kim’s who is kathoey, goes home to her rural village dressed as a man. Kim, a Thai tour guide, explained that kathoey and gay and lesbian people had “proved themselves” to be valuable members of society. It is important to point out that, although surgeries are more accessible, this does not mean that Thailand does not still have work to do in acceptance of kathoeys.ĭuring my time in Thailand, I learned that kathoey, much like trans people in the United States, were advocating for social change. Many had breasts, whether they were grown through hormones or augmentation, and they also looked to have had facial feminization surgery. Of the kathoeys I saw in Thailand, many had physical indications they were kathoey. In Thailand, unlike the United States, there are fewer barriers to accessing hormones and surgery for breast augmentation and genital surgery. However, it is important to note that overall, the kathoeys are getting recognition for their identity.
Some believe that kathoey are the way they are because of a transgression in a past life, and this is cause for pity. The bhatobyanjuanaka identity’s possession of the two spirits of male and female, reflects the Buddhist beliefs regarding reincarnation. Pandaka, historically, has had somewhat negative connotations, and in essence, is a man who wears women’s clothing. This is where the ideology around kathoey evolved. However, other more modern/progressive interpretations on this subject have said that, rather than an ambiguous genitalia, bhatobyanjuanaka is about the spiritual gender. Bhatobyanjuanaka has been described as the same as intersex. Buddhism describes 4 genders male, female, pandaka, and bhatobyanjuanaka. Unlike the U.S., gender is not seen as binary. Thai Buddhism has been a huge influencing factor in the ideas surrounding gender for Thais. This can be attributed to the very foundation of their society– Buddhism. Unlike the United States, Thailand has no problem acknowledging the existence and struggle of kathoey. In some public establishments bathrooms for “kathoey” are available. Discrimination and alienation have extended to kathoey criminals, even after undergoing genital reassignment, staying in all male prisons. Media outlets have been covering kathoey rights in Thailand and this is an increasing trend as LGBT rights become more known among Thai citizens.ĭiscrimination is an issue, and finding work as kathoey can be difficult.
#KATHOEY THAILAND FULL#
During my time at the Sunday night market in Chiang Mai, kathoeys were out in full costumes handing out flyers and taking pictures with tourists. Kathoey cabaret shows are a part of the Thai night life.
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