Transsexual Thai air hostesses: gimmick or equality?

by Amelie Bottollier-Depois

ABOARD FLIGHT GT210, March 12, 2012 (AFP) - With her crisp uniform, immaculate makeup and hair swept up, Mew looks like any other air hostess, but she's one of a handful of Thai transsexuals blazing a trail in the skies.

Fledgling Thailand-based carrier PC Air has hired four transgender cabin crew in a highly publicised recruitment drive that has divided opinion over whether the move is in the spirit of equality or exploitation.

"I like a job where I can show my ability and I love to wear beautiful suits," said Phuntakarn Sringern, better known by her nickname Mew, embarking Friday on the airline's first commercial flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong.

"This is just like my dream come true, and maybe this is a first step for transladies, transgenders, to have a good job in the future," the 25-year-old said.

In their neat black uniform and fiery orange scarves, Mew and her colleagues ushered passengers to their seats, demonstrated safety features and filled coffee cups -- offering little indication that they were any different from the other air hostesses on the flight.

Some passengers, perhaps having seen PC Air's advertising, asked the transsexual cabin crew to pose for pictures with them, but many seemed unaware there was anything unusual about the flight attendants.

"Oh, I did not hear before about it," said Bay, a Thai passenger. "They look really beautiful, and they are really nice... it's pretty cool."

Thailand has a culture of tolerance on issues of sexual orientation and gender, and "katoeys", as transsexuals are known in the kingdom, are considered a "third sex" in their own right.

In spite of this, more conservative elements of society find it hard to accept, with some families sending their children to monasteries to be "re-educated" and transsexuals struggling to find work in many areas.

"In my heart, I always want to be a flight attendant but I was waiting for an opportunity," said air hostess Chayathisa Nakmai, aged 24. But until now "every airline is open only for men and women, transgender is not accepted".

PC Air's initiative is being welcomed by some activists, who applaud its efforts to offer a chance of ordinary work to transgender people.

The company "helps promote a positive image of Thai transsexuals, beyond certain stereotypes", said transgender advocate Prempreeda Pramoj Na Ayutthaya. But others are sceptical about the motives of the company, which has actively sought to publicise its recruitment drive.

"They use the zany, outrageous, bizarre side of transsexuals," said Yollada Krerkkong Suanyot, president of Thailand's TransFemale Association of Thailand.

"This emphasises the way that society has regarded these people as if they were strange, special, bizarre. Come see them, these are stewardesses!".

Buddhist Thailand is spared from the "weight of the Judeo-Christian sexual repression", but had in the past been influenced by some Western ideas that presented transsexuals as "mentally disordered", said Sam Winter, a psychologist and gender specialist at the University of Hong Kong.

The result is "a practical and bureaucratic intolerance" towards a group of nearly 180,000 people, he says.

With few avenues for employment, growing numbers of Thai transsexuals are moving into sex work as a way to make money and for a "rare chance to affirm their identity as women", said Winter.

Despite their sex change operation, the law does not recognise Mew, and her transsexual colleagues as women -- a situation that forces PC Air to contact the destination country in advance, to avoid trouble at immigration gates.

PC Air currently has three planes and will operate charter flights from Bangkok to Hong Kong and other Asian destinations.

The company's boss Peter Chan, who lent his initials to the airline, is proud of being a "pioneer".

He denies any intention to use the transsexual crews as a marketing ploy and highlights reasons of the "heart" and "human rights" to justify the policy.

"It was never about money," the eccentric 48-year-old told AFP, before embarking on a rendition of "My Way" by Frank Sinatra as if to prove his point.

The slogan is also painted on the company's aircraft: "I believe it's 'my way'".

Mew, who had sex change surgery two years ago, is now hoping that others will follow in the company's footsteps, in the air and elsewhere.

"Maybe in the future," she said, "all transladies, all transgenders could get a job like a flight attendant or be prime minister."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-03-12

Rocky II?

"Maybe in the future," she said, "all transladies, all transgenders could get a job like a flight attendant or be prime minister."

Enter the Brown Shirts

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Edited March 12, 201214 yr by Slaps

Every time I take the bus from BK to Korat the hostess is a ladyboy. No big deal. Just don't spill the coffee on me.

"Maybe in the future," she said, "all transladies, all transgenders could get a job like a flight attendant or be prime minister."

And Army Generals and school directors. Why not, wouldn't change a lot, na Ha.....

The packet of nuts just got bigger.

"I like a job where I can show my ability and I love to wear beautiful suits,"

There are plenty of jobs in Pattaya / Phuket / Soi Cowboy / Nana etc where they can can show their ability and wear beautiful suits. Not just in the air.

Edited March 12, 201214 yr by sparebox2

Wanted, secretary, under 30, must be female, attractive

As long as adverts are written like this, it shows that no one here understands equality anyway.

Many do have a temper on them though.

Just saying.

Oh come on, how about some photos?

Does the company have promo shots?

BTW The funniest comment I ever saw on this subject was " where there's an apple there's usuall a banana".

lets stop all this discrimation. as long as she is qualified, capable and attractive..i will take her (him).

With her crisp uniform, immaculate makeup and hair swept up, Mew looks like any other air hostess, but she's one of a handful of Thai transsexuals blazing a trail in the skies.

"He", not "she". One can change the looking, but can't change his blood, the genes etc....

Ppl trying to play Gods again. Will fail again...

Oh come on, how about some photos?

Does the company have promo shots?

BTW The funniest comment I ever saw on this subject was " where there's an apple there's usuall a banana".

Wanted, secretary, under 30, must be female, attractive

As long as adverts are written like this, it shows that no one here understands equality anyway.

Seriously? That was an ad? I remember a bloke from Australia was in all sorts of trouble for advertising for waitresses - "Uniform supplied, to size 10 only"

Just waiting for Thai Airways to put their own version of 'Singapore girl'.....

'Chick with a dick - you're a great way to fly'!!

Time for the schoolboys to have their say?

With her crisp uniform, immaculate makeup and hair swept up, Mew looks like any other air hostess, but she's one of a handful of Thai transsexuals blazing a trail in the skies.

"He", not "she". One can change the looking, but can't change his blood, the genes etc....

Ppl trying to play Gods again. Will fail again...

Genes can play tricks on the body. Its proven that person can be born in the wrong gendered body and be totally at odds with their sex. A person who truly believes they were born in the wrong sex, is, imo, the sex they chose to be, even before surgery. Those who complete a full transgender, are, imo, totally the sex they were meant to be and should be treated as such. I dont believe in "Gods", i believe nature sometimes mixes things up in many ways from time to time, including a persons gender. Nature is not infallible.

Regardless, has nothing to do with her ability to be good at her job or not. So what if she used to be "technically" male.

Genes can play tricks on the body.

He was born as a man, and he will live with that, and die with that - regardless his "cut-offs" and wearing girlie things. That's it.

A simple, purest haraam (حرام).

i believe nature sometimes mixes things

And I believe in human's idiocity, short-thinking and selfish.

Doing such of things as "transfer yourself" has nothing to do with nature, it is just a common excuse (I've read'em a thousand times).

Edited March 12, 201214 yr by alexakap

^ Good thing that the worlds changing, with outdated narrow mindedness along with it.

Oh my god, it is a job. Some people are so narrow minded. They did not go and grab your nuts on a plane. LOL

Just waiting for Thai Airways to put their own version of 'Singapore girl'.....

'Chick with a dick - you're a great way to fly'!!

On overnight flight, I wonder if they do moonlighting jobs?

Many do have a temper on them though.

Just saying.

I do understand what you are saying. It comes as a shock to those who are used to seeing a female behave as a "female". I don't imply you, just using your post. I would think this concept of "temper" by ladyboys in the sex industry comes from no experience in the sex trade of North America. There they'd just as soon cut you as put up with BS there. And they are female!!!

^ Good thing that the worlds changing, with outdated narrow mindedness along with it.

i believe nature sometimes mixes things up in many ways from time to time, including a persons gender

Look at his photo on the prev.page.

Now you wanna tell me that this head thinks that it is smarter than a Mother Nature - to start his own game with his own rules? C'mon, gimme a break....

Nature will win just in one step: no offsprings from such a careless gamers who dare to play Gods. Bingo!

What a wasted life...wasted by his own decision and choice.

Transsexuals are a dead end, the most they can hope for as they get older is to be an aunty or uncle. In Asian cultures where the aged look to their children for support, rather than the state, this causes problems. Most seem to realise this and so are more provident with their money.

So this is turning into a general GLBT bashing thread. How predictable. The intolerance and ignorance is stunning.

I've been witness to young boys being raised as girls from a young age by their grandparents. How many of these flight attendants did not have a choice. You see a gatoeuy is able to receive a sinsot to the grandparents where a Thai man will not. If it was their choice, so be it, but many times it is not and people should be aware of this.

Learned response as opposed to genetics.

So this is turning into a general GLBT bashing thread. How predictable. The intolerance and ignorance is stunning.

Would you tell me even one reason - why must I tolerate their idea more than my own?

Will you tolerate if your beloved growing son says one day "Dad, I want my balls cut out, and I wanna huge silicone tits!"

Will you say "Ok son, lets do that tomorrow morning then!"?

Just yes or no? No bashes here.

Edited March 12, 201214 yr by alexakap

I really do not understand the very strong opinions expressed by some on here. Where is your tolerance? We have been flying with gay flight attendants for years. As long as they can do the job, who cares?

We have been flying with gay flight attendants for years.

And we have not.

Edited March 12, 201214 yr by alexakap

all you people giving them a hard time did you take one home by mistake once ??