Transvestites in Thailand: the real underbelly of ladyboy life
What is the first thing people associate with Thailand? The frantic rhythm of Bangkok, the magical beaches of Pattaya, tom yum soup, Buddhist temples and monasteries, or maybe Attaya and Sukhothai? This will definitely be mentioned, but few people forget to talk about childbirth. Add to this how many there are and how difficult it is to distinguish them from real women.
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Perhaps someone will remember funny stories about how one of his friends (but not himself, of course) came across this fishing rod and ended up in the arms of a Thai transvestite. And this is not an exaggeration. Maternity babies, or ladyboys as they are called in Thailand, are very common in the land of the white elephants.
They can be seen everywhere: in schools, shops, restaurants and temples. And tourists do not need to go to the Zuramny district of the city or to go-go bars in the evenings. This happens because the authorities turn a blind eye to this, if this is the case, because the authorities are not just a minority. This is one of the same tourist attractions as the symbol of Thailand, its calling card, and the ruins of the ancient city of Ayech Thai.
Perhaps it”s because of the sheer number of them, or because in Thailand, transvestites are members of society like everyone else and no one tries to harass them for their life choices.
But is this really so? How tolerant are the residents of this country towards transvestites outside the tourism business? What is life like in a country where children still come first?
Who are they: transvestites, ladyboys or katoys?
Men who dress and behave like European women are used to being called mothers and transgenders. However, in Thailand, tourists call them “women”, which can be translated from English as “wife”. However, they do not associate with them as such because they find the term derogatory.
Thais use the Khmer word “kata”. This translates to “a boy who is also a girl.” And this word not only describes their appearance and preferences, but also indicates that they are neither women nor men. In fact, they are considered the third polo in Thailand.
Why are there so many of them in Thailand?
As mentioned above, there are a lot of them in Thailand. And it”s not just bar dancers. Your child can study with them at school, buy food at the market or rent an apartment. So where do they come from?
They tell horror stories about parents who start giving him hormones, noting that their young son prefers to interact with girls and play with dolls. This seems completely wrong for a child and, fortunately, is just a rumor.
Parents very rarely interfere in their son”s life. He usually makes the same decision himself during puberty and begins taking hormones to change his gender. There are no problems with this in Thailand. Hormonal pills can be purchased at any pharmacy without a doctor”s prescription or prior consultation.
Many teenagers aged 13-15 take these drugs without the knowledge of their parents, who understand that they are homosexual and different from their peers or men. Of course, some people should not follow their nature and do it for the sake of fashion.
Since Thai crossdressers very often become famous and popular actresses and singers, boys, inspired by their fame, also want to be like them. As a result, some of them decide to undergo radical surgery (if, of course, they have money), while others retain their male genitals and simply dress up as women.
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Observations by sociologists around the world confirm the sad fact that in recent years the number of divorces has been gradually increasing. Marriage and family are bigger.
By the way, Thai parents are completely normal about such changes in the appearance and behavior of their son. This is completely natural for the country. No fireworks, no parade of 100 elephants, such an ordinary and everyday event. But at the same time, no scandals, no rejection from the sons, no expulsion from home. Thai crossdressers are a third gender that is widely accepted in society, free to be creative and live the way they want.
And the fact that crossdressing perverts are now a national tourist product has added an extra edge. All major cities in Thailand have theatres, cabarets, bars and brothels with crossdressing perverts. And I must say, they are very popular. After all, crossdressers are often more beautiful than many women.
Why do the Thais treat them so calmly?
The roots of such tolerance are hidden in Buddhism, the state religion of Thailand. Or, to be more precise, a form of Theravada Buddhism that not only professes the philosophy of the Buddha, but also allows for belief in all the gods and spirits previously worshiped in this realm.
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Ordinary people even sympathize with them. After all, they are sinners who did something wrong in a past life. People who are born crossdressers are not considered destined for a happy life.
What role do they occupy in society?
Of course, with all that said, discrimination against perverted crossovers doesn”t seem to be a problem in Thailand. Katoy lives openly and freely and, unlike other crossdressing perverts around the world, has no problems with her choices.
However, that”s not all.
The Buddhist attitude towards hatoi does not at all prevent Buddhist monks from moralizing them and telling them that they should remain men because they were born as men. Monasteries even open schools where teenage transvestites are taught how to become men again. And some parents send their children there.
For most Thais, crossdressers remain second-class citizens. Yes, no one beats them. But the entertainment industry is the biggest thing they can achieve in life. They can become dancers, hairdressers, make-up artists, but for them there is no good, well-paid job.
In addition, Thailand has universal military service for men. At the age of 18, every man receives a summons from the Thai Armed Forces Registration and Conscription Bureau, where he is required to appear and undergo a commission. And this applies to them because, according to the document, dress perverts are still men. And they also have to do it in such a way that there are no problems with the law.
Dresses and short skirts, as well as hair and makeup. They are not drafted into the army, but according to the law they are recorded as mentally retarded. This information is reflected in official documents, but this does not add to their opportunity to find a good job. Indeed, this is another reason why there are so many transvestites among prostitutes and dancers who have no other choice.
The only solution for them is not to wear makeup, wear trousers and have a short haircut. In other words, they become men posing as men when in fact they are women. But even then, they are not guaranteed high salaries or promotions. They may forget about their rapidly developing careers. Or they are carefully hidden so that no one suspects. After all, people in the upper echelons of Thai society cannot be crossdressers.
Yes, crossdressers live in Thailand and in societies where they are treated calmly, but not fully accepted. Of course, there are activists who are now loudly speaking about their problems and fighting for their right to a better life. But victory is still far away, and most of them continue to behave like real Thais, but hide all their problems with a smile.
