Why Are Their So Many Ladyboys In Thailand ?

[sgtpeppers]

From this BBC article we have one explanation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7529227.stm

<snip>

A ratio of 10% to 20% of boys calling themselves transsexual in a provincial high school does seem very high, but Mr Sitisak assured me that in his experience it was not unusual.

Which brought up a question that has been rattling around my head ever since I first lived in Thailand seven years ago: Why do so many Thai men want to become women?

I asked Suttirat Simsiriwong, who became a campaigner for transgender rights after she was barred entry to a nightclub at an international hotel in Bangkok last year.

Poised, articulate and very feminine, it is hard to tell that she was not born a woman.

"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."

<snip>

-----------

So does this sound right to you?

Thai culture, makes it easier for transgenders to "come out" and express themselves?

Or is it a case that they see it as a way out to avoid their masculinity ?

Or perhaps they want to belong in a group, have a sense of identity ?

Teenage rebelling /phase they are going through ?

Thais tell me 20 years ago the ladyboy phenomonen was almost non-existant. It is a modern trend.

Perhaps it is just a type of show off "fashion"

10-20% seems disproportionately high.

Edited July 30, 2008 by sgtpeppers

[Scott]

I think there are a lot of them because they can be ladyboys without too much danger to your person. Try it in some western countries and they'll bury you with your heels on! Not very tolerant.

IMO, being a transgender is probably one of the most difficult situations to be in. You are pretty much universally despised (or at least not respected), your level of social acceptance is nil, and your job options are very limited.

[sweetchariot]

I still don't get it either. Although with the increase in Middle Eastern tourists to the country there does seem to be increasing demand.

Another possible reason is that they avoid the military draft.

[MonkeyHouse]

Why not ask them?

[ilyushin]

Possibly because they are used to getting up the back side so why not make a living out of it.

There are probably thousands of reasons like get attention, chemistry, family life, rebel, demonstration, interesting, fun, different, fashionable, etc...

I was told by a rotor pilot buddy they give great BJs and are cheaper then the chicks at Nana. I have not gone so far as to try and have no plans. I have a good relationship with real babes, but I will say the ones ( Ladyboys) now days are very attractive. They have figures and the cosmetic surgery makes them look really nice, buy still not that good.

I don't have a problem with them unless they are screaming loudly.

[pampal]

the demand is high and they make better money

[Cuban]

Firstly, I must say the use of your <snip> <snip> was amusing.....

Second, I too have thought about this subject and came to this conclusion, FWIW.

Looking around the world at places that do have transgender populations - there appears to be a correlation with the country's lattitude; Thailand, Philippines, Brazil....

Not 'good' science maybe - but an observation.

[Ulysses G.]

Some Thai doctors told me that many Thai boys have way too many female hormones and that the problem is biological.

[farang555]

maybe its just that u hangout in areas where they gather........lol.

someone got % of poulation stats.......!

[Cuban]

Thai boys have way too many female hormones and that the problem is biological.

What a good idea - added to my post above you get countries that might be said to have poor control on the use of chemicals that seep into the water supply and act as like estrogen.

Link.

[Jingthing]

TS people do exist in all societies. In some they are invisible because of repression. In Thailand they are very visible, even though Thailand is not a paradise for them, they are mostly free to walk about. It does seem that there is a higher percentage in Thailand, and I think it is a good question to ask why. I haven't a clue!

BTW, even though politically in the west TS people and gay people have formed an alliance, they are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT things. Got it?

In case you need this be spelled out, gay men are men with men's bodies and men's brains who love men. TS's are men with a woman's brain. When they have sex with a man, it is an act of heterosexuality.

Edited July 30, 2008 by Jingthing

[PeaceBlondie]

I don't know. Chances are, less than 1 percent of ThaiVisa posters know or understand. Then there are semantic problems in translation and in your own language. Does the term measure gayness, femininity, nature, learned behavior? I got wildly misquoted on another forum when I stated here or on ajarnforum, that roughly 15% of the matayom 1 boys (ages 12 and 13) appeared to be gay. The figure was higher at the commercial college where I taught briefly, where some teenaged students wore girl's uniforms.

Sexual gender roles in Thailand are not so rigorously enforced in Thailand, as they would be in Texas or Australia. Even in my childhood and adolescence, boys did not have to beat each other to a pulp to prove they had a penis. The kid across the street, who dressed in his sister's clothes, was joked about, but not beat up.

So I think the answer is, "because they can." Almost makes me wish I had grown up here.

[craighj]

I'm told that transgenderism (if there is such a word) has been around in Thailand for over a Thousand years. However I suggest that there are now more of them because it is even more accepted.

Craig

[Shotime]

First, the use of your <snip> <snip> made me flinch each time you used it.

I thought that they were gay, and as they grew up, they just did what was natural. J. Edgar Hoover used to dress up like a lady. His case was different, but I'm sure he didn't just wake up one day and say to himself I want to dress up like a lady.

It seems like it's become fashionable to be into TV's today. At home, some of the local papers have 4 or 5 pages of classifieds for TV services. I think with the advent of the internet and porno, many curiosities have been discovered. Chicks with Dicks is a big hit here and at home. Boredom with ordinary sex is also a part of it. It's starting to sound as if I think I know too much about it. Well, I like to study humankind. Sort of like a laptop anthropologist. Is the world coming to an end?

[TheDon]

I say move this to the gay forum

[Jingthing]

I say move this to the gay forum

I say no. Unless you want to start Ladyboy forum. The vast majority of fans of Thai ladyboys are heterosexually identified men.

[jing jing]

Maybe it has something to do with so many boys here in Thailand being brought up without their fathers around -- lack of strong male role models, hence effeminate behaviour -- that's a possibility, don't you think?

[Shotime]

^ You sure?

[Richb2004v2]

What do you mean so many Ladyboys?

[dannyman]

THERE IN THAILAND,THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY, THEY ARE ALL OVER THE WORLD ! POWER TO THE TRANSGENDER'S !

[sgtpeppers]

Why not ask them?

I suspect the young ones (and many of the older ones), don't know the real reason they chose this way.

The offical response is of course "born this way", and while this may apply to some, I doubt it is the case for all.

[LuckyFive8888]

surgery is affordable...

[kmart]

I don't mind them at all. Sometimes it's nice to reach around and think you've gone through...

[dannyman]

You better know ! The procedure is not irreversible !

[Poottrong]

This is a good question and one I get asked a lot so let me know when you guys have figured out the answer.

[Jingthing]

You better know ! The procedure is not irreversible !

Actually, it is. You can grow yourself a new one (on your arm). Enjoy.

[Cuban]

I suspect the young ones (and many of the older ones), ....

But I don't think I have seen many older ones, so few over age.... 40?

Do they revert? I was once told that they become suicidally depressed due to sexual fustration - however this conversation was over a beer sitting in a bar so has an appropriate level of validity.

[ilyushin]

TS people do exist in all societies. In some they are invisible because of repression. In Thailand they are very visible, even though Thailand is not a paradise for them, they are mostly free to walk about. It does seem that there is a higher percentage in Thailand, and I think it is a good question to ask why. I haven't a clue!

BTW, even though politically in the west TS people and gay people have formed an alliance, they are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT things. Got it?

In case you need this be spelled out, gay men are men with men's bodies and men's brains who love men. TS's are men with a woman's brain. When they have sex with a man, it is an act of heterosexuality.

Good post. So to sleep with a Ladyboy is not considered homosexual? That would make things different in the minds of some folks. Not guilty so get it on. I agree that they look like ladies and also probably perform the moves the same, but the thinking part is hard for me to accept. If they (LBs) can understand women, I need to speak with one of these LBs so they can explain why my wife does some of the things she does.

[TheDon]

If you sleep with a lady boy then you are a poof, no doubt about that, its a bloke, and if a bloke sleeps with a bloke then that means he is gay.

No if's or buts about it

[DeeMaiDee]

For all the Brainless Steroid Types to impress.