"Ladyboy" culture in southeast Asia

[Jessica EnFemme]

Any expats here from Thailand-Phillipines area?

I understand "ladyboy" culture goes back hundreds of years in that area. Is it true it's widely accepted in general? If true, this sounds like a great place to retire!

[Rogina B]

Retire to do what??? The ladyboys? An old Westerner is just that...

[Jessica EnFemme]

I guess retire to be myself. Buy groceries as myself enfemme, without harassment or stares. The simple things.

[Ineke Vashon]

Birds of a feather............ Why not?

Ineke

[queenie]

Accepted? It depends on your definition of the word. Transgendered people certainly are more tolerated there than they are here, but there's a long ways to go before there is full social acceptance. There still is a heavy stigma associated with "ladyboys" in Thailand and all but the stealth ones struggle to find employment in mainstream society.

[KaceyR]

Some of what queenie states is also the impression I got talking to my nail technician at my last mani-pedi.
She apparently has her uncle that dresses still in Thailand...but the employment and economy for him isn't the best.
She sends clothing and care packages to him and the family there apparently.

[Kate Simmons]

I guess that's okay if you want to be defined by a culture. I'm myself in any culture really. :battingeyelashes::)

[GeminaRenee]

I once heard it summed up this way:"In Thailand, there isn't the same level of aggression towards less masculine males that there would be in, say, Texas or Australia. There is still a lot of dislike associated with ladyboys, though. If you want to be a ladyboy, you will probably just be chastised for it. But at least you won't beaten to a pulp."

Not the most cs/ts/tg aware quote in the world, but it gives you the idea. There is still a lot of stigma associated with being trans, but there is a definite culture within which one is likely to be relatively accepted. Employment options are not great, unless you want to be a prostitute. Because of this HIV is rampant within the community. My understanding is also that kathoey can be denied entrance to establishments, and are often shunned by the mainstream folks.

So, it might or might not be the place for you. The dollar goes a long way in a place like Thailand, so if you retire with a nice chunk, you could probably live there quite comfortably for a long time.

[michellekhoo]

Yep. I live in Asia, been to Thailand countless times and what Gemina says is quite spot on. They have a very "Buddhist" level of tolerance - obviously. If you were to retire there one day and you have some cash in your bank, if think you would have a very nice existence.

[Beverley Sims]

As others have said assimilation is good in Asia.

[Mickey M]

They are nice to look at , but at 61 I'm no
Ladyboy. I do try to stay slim and fit and
shaved (nose to toes). Painted toenails are
nice also. I do my wife's and then mine.

[Annaliese]

From what I have seen, not first hand, but on the news and documentary, that the ladyboy are working ladyboys, like work girls here.

[Rogina B]

Other than the costs of living,I can't see that a retired Westerner has anything much in common with Ladyboys...You will be viewed as T wherever...that isn't going to change from Baltimore...

[MetalGurl]

I'd love to go to Thailand/Asia/Brazil or any other country with a big "ladyboy" culture, but not to be one of them, but to go in guy mode. I adore beautiful women like that, and would fulfill one of my fantasies in life. But going from a seemingly sparse CD/TS area in Pennsylvania to someplace like that might be a sensory overload initially :P

[sometimes_miss]

As above, ladyboys there are very often 'escorts' or sex workers (and, the ones shown on tv documentaries are usually on the younger, prettier side, they don't show the fat ugly ones, tv is just like it is here beauty is what they show unless you're on Jerry Springer). And also, there are places in large cities even in the U.S. where you can live and be virtually ignored by the rest of the world, no matter how you present yourself. Just stay in those areas and you can be your femme self forever.

[debbie55]

As have been said, Thailand is Buddhist and its part of Buddhism but not in a positive way, According to a documentary I saw (so may be all rubbish) in Buddhism you have an eternal spirit and are reincarnated, Lady-boys are female spirits reincarnated in the male body as punishment for wrong doings in the previous life, With Buddhism being a tolerant faith they are to be pitied for their wrongdoings and misfortune rather than celebrated.

Whilst on the surface the tolerance appears to mean Thailand is a good place to be transgendered, but lady-boys can not legally change their gender even if they go all the way, discrimination against them is rife and employment is pretty much limited to entertainment, and only the lucky, pretty, ones get into the end of the industry that doesn't involve "personal" entertainment.

Oh and it helps the tolerance that in the, personal entertainment of westerners, there is a great deal of money to be made, which is to be sent back to the rural farming family.

[alyssamc]

Interesting note concerning Ladyboys.. In the late 80's I was part of an Air Force airlift crew going from the states to the Philippines and that area of the world, part of our briefing was to beware of the "ladyboys"....

[Julia Red]

I'd love to go to Thailand/Asia/Brazil or any other country with a big "ladyboy" culture, but not to be one of them, but to go in guy mode. I adore beautiful women like that, and would fulfill one of my fantasies in life. But going from a seemingly sparse CD/TS area in Pennsylvania to someplace like that might be a sensory overload initially :P

I would remove Brazil from the list.

Outside of porn industry and prostitution, I don't think we have any ladyboy culture. Something like that is still seem as weird by "normal" people, and the acceptance level here is just like it is on many other countries.

[Bea A]

I spent sometime there in 1990 - and I recall the term being "Benny Boys", no so much Ladyboys

[Bea A]

Interesting note concerning Ladyboys.. In the late 80's I was part of an Air Force airlift crew going from the states to the Philippines and that area of the world, part of our briefing was to beware of the "ladyboys"....

I spent a couple of port calls from my ship in 1990. I remember the term "Benny Boys" more than Ladyboys.