Ladyboys of Phuket

When I told my friends that I plan a longer stay in Thailand, it is surprising how often the answer to hear the same stupid I - "care for their ladyboys!" Again and again I heard those comments really stupid until he started to rub. Everyone does the same stupid joke, like intelligent and original. What a ridiculous stereotype of Thailand, I thought. As if there are ladyboys everywhere you go.

The funny thing is that once I moved to Thailand,I soon discovered that ladyboys or katoeys known in Thailand as they are, are really everywhere. It is not just a handful of them working tourist. You will see, working in shops and restaurants. Even if it is over, you will find katoeys. They are really everywhere.

In fact, I was not here long before you have personal knowledge, who had a katoey. One of the things I noticed was just how comfortable other Thais were in her company. StraightThai men were quite happy to give you compliments on how to tell her how beautiful she looked. Everyone called her 'her', as being educated and made happy.

Personally, I was initially a bit 'uncomfortable in his presence. I was not afraid they would jump on him. It was a happy and relaxed. I was just a bit 'unsure of how to deal with it. It was a fascinating way of Thais treated her that I was soon reassured.

What is a Katoey?

What exactly is aKatoey? I had this discussion with some friends short West. Both live in Phuket and they both said that a name only if someone is a katoey, they change gender operation behind it, otherwise you should use the term Ladyboy. What I feel is a Western invention distinction. Katoey is a Thai word and that is not how it is used.

Thais use the term much more relaxed. You use the word for every man, acting like a woman. Transgender male is probably the closest English word. Menwomen have changed katoeys surgery. Thus, those who take hormones to create female attributes such as breasts. Thus, those who dress like a woman. Even gay men who do something to put up and some are described as Volant katoeys.

Why so many katoeys in Thailand?

According to this definition, there are certainly many katoeys in Thailand. Why is this phenomenon more frequently than in other countries? It seems unlikely thatis a genetic reason for Thailand to people of other countries have more transgender people. I think the reason is much more tolerant attitude of the Thais do.

There are many katoey TV stars, singers and models. They also katoey beauty contests. There have been several katoey movies such as "Beautiful Boxer was" who is the true story of a katoey who became a champion Muay Thai boxer. They often kiss her defeated opponent.

Katoeys seem to be a distantAccepted part of Thai society. This is probably partly to do with the Buddhist religion and its preaching of tolerance towards others. But other countries with a strong Buddhist influence (Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Laos, Japan) are not known for their young lady.

There must be something else at work. I believe that one key strength is the Thai belief that life should be fun (Sanook). When they see a katoey, they think it's funny. You can laugh and joke about it, but not badWay. It will not be complaining, or threats occur only in Western countries.

So the main reason why many katoeys in Thailand is so simple that Thai society is open and tolerant. One wonders how many transvestites there might in western countries if our societies are a bit 'more lenient.

Katoeys How many work in Phuket?

Following the tsunami disaster and Media Feeding Frenzy that followed, a friend sent me aArticle from a British newspaper. The reporter was in Phuket and obviously struggling to compete for attention with journalists to affected areas more difficult. So he did what a lot of reporters in Phuket and started focusing on the seedy side of the local nightlife. Rather, what this tragedy with the tsunami, I have not done.

This particular reporter seemed to be fascinated with the ladyboy scene. He made a few generalizations about the nightlife in Phuket, and throughout the islandwas really a cesspool of debauchery. He claimed there were 5,000 ladyboys who work in the sex industry in Phuket and a mass demand for their services.

Where did he get this figure? It seems a very bold statement. There is a census? If the authorities are a ladyboy? I really doubt it was a reliable statistics available for this journalist. Like most of his report, I think we just made up but obviously saw enough ladyboys around I think it was a reasonable assumption.

PhuketHigh season population will be about 500,000. If 5,000 of them are ladyboys then that would be 1% of the population. This seems very unlikely but not unthinkable. But he said that actually work in the sex industry 5000. Where was this army of children available Lady?

Soi Katoey in Bangla Road in Patong, there are a couple dancing in front of the SOI. There is another katoey bar at the back and show Moulin Rouge Ladyboy. But surely, even at the highestEstimates, there could be no more than 50 working in Soi Katoey Ladyboys. There may be 30 Implementation at Simon Cabaret Ladyboy Show - is that even when the sex industry are? For the sake of argument, say it does. Then there's the gay area around Soi Paradise. We are a few ladyboys around this area, but I believe that an estimate of 100 would have been very generous.

There are a few freelance ladyboys fronts along the beach to spend annoying drunks. But in reality, theythere is a very high number. We once more generous and say 100 I missed any? Perhaps there are a few dotted around other sex establishments.

So even if we think of numbers, we have a rough estimate very generous of 300 ladyboys active in the sex industry. I really think this is probably extremely generous. Many of the above figures are probably the same katoeys change from place to place, and I think I overestimated my assumptions. The total number could befew as 100

I would say somewhere between 100-300 katoeys working in the sex industry in Phuket. Certainly not, but then a figure of 5 000 100 would not be a good press.

Men and katoeys

So what the question is katoeys? There are very many people are looking for their services? Since its most common approach seems to make fun of people very drunk, I estimate that their services are not huge demand. I have a few men who have had sexual encounters findkatoeys. Most of them claim it was a mistake drunk.

I did meet a man who happily proclaimed he had just 'blown off' by two katoeys in his hotel room. He was rather proud of themselves and certainly do not claim it was a mistake. You meet some funny characters in Patong.

I think there are some real question katoeys. Even if they are active in the gay area, I do not think a pure question gay. Even if they are made, women, I do not think a straightThing. But it is difficult to define a group of men, katoeys find attractive. Sure, there are a lot of curiosity about them. Each month, the word "katoey" in the top 20 list of keywords that led people to our Phuket website. It is only a small section on katoeys.

Negative

Although katoeys are generally well accepted in Thai society is still a downside to their reputation. They have a reputation for bad and untrustworthy.I have personally met some of Thailand during my years and I must say that outside everyone seemed happy and fit. However, I also heard many stories of katoeys involved in criminal activities such as pickpocketing and theft of others. They are also known to harass and threaten passers-by late at night while looking for customers along the beach fronts.

These things happen for sure, but the extent of the problem is unclear. Both katoeysactually commit crimes on a scale more than other Thais is hard to assess.

They also have a reputation as an emotionally unbalanced. As I said, everyone I have met seemed in order. But I think it's fair to say that the tribes are very demanding of his life and it is not surprising that many of them lose emotional control easily.

Katoeys tolerance in Thai society is not absolute. Their families, especially fathers, sometimes reject them. Men who in mostOther possibilities are katoeys tolerant, you can still find a disgrace of a father.

And the authorities even tolerance has its limits. When a katoey volleyball team won the national championship, two teams were selected for the national team. The government intervened and blocked their selection. Did not know what is good for the country's image.

Saving Private Tootsie

In 2002 there was a Thai film with English title "Saving Private Tootsie". In this film,a plane crash strands a group of katoeys jungle of a war-torn neighboring country. A group of macho Thai soldiers sent to rescue them. The story revolves around the personality clashes between katoeys crags and macho men as they try to escape from the neighboring country.

In the end, all in a row is a tie for the final transition to return to Thailand. The soldiers put aside their distaste for katoeys and its leader returns home after back finally to accept the child,a katoey.

The film is a message of tolerance, which is typical of Thai society. At the end of the film is a nice quote from one katoey. "I can be born in the wrong body, but at least I was born in the country right."