To wonder why a seemingly high number of Thai Men want to become women?

[Cocoflower]

Saw the end of documentary on Transgendered people and a lot of it was focusing on Thailand.

Thailand is famous for its transgendered population, with a very open culture and seemingly high percentage of men wanting to be women or have become women.

So it got me thinking; why?

Yes, there are transgenders all over the world but why such a high amount in Thailand? Or does it simply appear that way as it very accepted in their culture?


Any ideas?

[HengshanRoad]

I'm not exactly sure, but I think there are several reasons. Firstly, since transexualism is accepted in Thailand, more people with transgender tendencies "come out" as they know they won't be persecuted for it. Secondly, because there is a thriving sex industry in which transgendered people can find work, it becomes an attractive economic option.

[Cocoflower]

Thanks I will look at Peter Jackson.

So do you think if it was tolerated more in the UK there really would be higher number of men changing to women?

Do you think some do it purely for money alone?
I suppose it helps that physically they can pull off looking like women (who many men seem to admit are quite attractive) far more easily than western men.

[kelly2000]

I do not think they do it for the money. Although there are a lot of transgender people in the entertainment and sex industry which is very visable, I think this is more because there are not a lot of other opportunities as they are still discriminated against- it is not common to see transgender teachers, doctors, lawyers etc. The average sex worker does not earn a lot in Thailand and are in great danger, and a lot of them are from the very poorest regions, or from neighbouring countries where they are also in poverty. There was a story recently about an airline that is putting in quotas to ensure they hire transgender people to help end this discrimination.
I think if it was more tolerated here, more people would feel they could be open. I do not see it as men changing to women, rather than women being born in the wrong bodies and getting that corrected. I also remember reading somewhere that as society becomes more open about this there will be more and more women under going gender reassignment

[Cocoflower]

So there isn't a higher amount in Thailand due to any psycholgical, sociological or biological reasons as such then compared to the rest of the world?

It is more to do with the tolerance?

[ScarletLady01]

I think if it was more tolerated here more people would DEFINITELY come out. My sister is transgender and some of the hate and prejudice she's experienced in this country is disgusting.

[Cocoflower]

Sorry to hear that Scarlet :(

[EggyAllenPoe]

also, is it easier to be transgender than gay there? that is to say, is there pressure on gay men to not be men? i know this to be the case in Iran...where homosexuality is a crime punishable by death but sex-change operations are completely legal. there is a culture that allows men to be entertainers so long as they are feminine and eunuch-like rather than butch and homosexual.

i do not believe Thailand to be a more tolerant place in general.

[Cocoflower]

Im not sure.... I think a lot of the 'ladyboys' (don't flame me its a commonly used word!) are pre-op aren't they?

[slowshow]

I was curious about this also, after reading about Thai schools having toilets for male, female and transgendered pupils.

Will have to have a read of that link

[yellowraincoat]

Could it be linked to Buddhism? I think the type of Buddhism they practise in Thailand is quite different to other countries.

[Cocoflower]

I looked at an online book on Amazon

The book seemed to go along the lines that the Buddist belief means they think people are 'cursed' due to bad past lives and become transgendered

Another source on the internet suggested the opposite- that Buddishim teaches far greater tolerance?

No idea whats right- just my small research

[yellowraincoat]

An article on the bbc news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7529227.stm says that it is linked to Thailand being a very gentle, soft culture...

Fascinating subject.

[Cocoflower]

Good Article Yellow

And intresting quote for TG campaigner;

"Maybe the numbers of gays, of people with sexual identity issues, might be the same as in other countries," said Suttirat, "but because Thai society and culture tend to be very sweet, very soft, and the men can be really feminine, if we tend to be gay, many of us tend to be transgender." "

[TiggyD]

It's not "men becoming women". It's 'women with a rather substantial birth defect having it corrected'.

[Cocoflower]

That would have been a rather long tittle Tiggy

[Cocoflower]

Anyways... it is 'birth defect'?

Not something influenced later in life?

[TiggyD]

It's not something they choose. It's not something they become in later life, although they might realise it later in life. The fact they are female and were from birth is very important. (I say fact because it is legally recognised, not just some loopy theory.)

[Cocoflower]

So your saying there is a higher number of people born in the wrong body in Thailand? So you think the reasons are biological?