Thailand in pictures (10): Ladyboys
A picture paints a thousand words. This certainly applies to Thailand, a special country with an interesting culture and many cheerful people, but also a dark dark side of coups, poverty, exploitation, animal suffering, violence and many road deaths.
In each episode we choose a theme that gives an insight into Thai society. In this series no slick pictures of swaying palms and white beaches, but of people. Sometimes hard, sometimes shocking, but also surprising. Today a photo series about Ladyboys.
Ladyboys (Kathoey) are inextricably linked to Thailand. You will therefore find them in both the nightlife and in the public space. Kathoey or ladyboys are a special group in Thailand. They are strongly represented in the street scene of the tourist centers and are notable for their extravagant behaviour. In addition, they form an important part of the entertainment industry in Thailand with various shows and performances. Kathoey's shows such as Tiffany and Alcazar are world famous. Yet there is a lot of ambiguity about kathoey. In the west we quickly want to put people in boxes, something that is rather difficult with kathoey. A ladyboy is not a transsexual or transvestite. The kathoey is also not male, female, gay or straight. There are more intermediate forms in Thailand.
Pattaya alone already has about five thousand ladyboys, pre-op and post-op (with and without sex reassignment surgery). Of these, 75 percent work as an entertainer or sex worker, 10 percent perform in a cabaret, 10 percent are students and 5 percent have a 'normal' job.
Ladyboys
(Anton Watman / Shutterstock.com)
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Matt Hahnewald / Shutterstock.com
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(Sergey Colonel / Shutterstock.com)
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(Matt Hahnewald / Shutterstock.com)
Here more about kathoeys and ladyboys in Thailand:
https://www.thailandblog.nl/achtergrond/kathoey-in-de-thaise-maatschappij-tolerantie-maar-met-weinig-acceptatie/
My wife has never heard of that word before
I have read a lot on this topic, also in Thai. I looked for that word 'phuchin' again today but couldn't find it. How do you write that in Thai script? Thanks.
Maybe it's ผู้จิ๊น :: impostor/impersonator :: impostor? At least that's what Google translate makes of ผู้จิ๊น. Thai-Engish.com does not recognize it.
If anyone could know, I think it would be Tino.
But how about this one: พุชิน or this one: ภุจิน Phonetic representations Phu chin and Phu cin
The first is translated as “impressions” by google translate.
The second as phujin in Dutch. Untranslatable I think.
I think impressions are a good thing, after all, they create an impression.
By the way, I'd swear it's just women in those pictures
It's that it says they've adapted and I assume it's true, otherwise I'd definitely look again when they met me on the street. Maybe I would if I knew what it really was.
This article does prove that you shouldn't rely too much on your eyes when looking for a woman and she? smiles at you.
Excuse me? I could swear there wasn't a single lady among them. Too big breasts and too bony. I have some guidelines for you: Thai ladies generally have small breasts. Thai ladies are a bit plump, not angular. I use several rules to decide whether I think it is a lady: must be shorter than me, must wear high heels (because I want to look taller), no big facade, because then it is artificial. Do we still have: the Adam's apple, the tone of voice (too low is man) and when they are small, ladies almost always have some fat on their bones, men don't. So if they look a bit angular anywhere, I'll move on to the next one. Oh yes, are they cheeky, chances are also a ladyboy.
I don't agree with all your statements. Nowadays, Thai women are also growing taller (due to different diets). I also know some women who have a naturally large facade. Also a lower voice does not always refer to a lady boy
Mr Bojangles, there is only one way to find out whether a lady is a real lady and, let me put it politely, that is with an 'on-the-spot investigation', although not everyone likes that. A black eye can be your just reward! Any further assumptions from you are just guesswork.
The length? Look at Thai women playing basketball. Girls of 14 years old who are already taller than me at 1,83 m and to whom I tend to ask 'Cold upstairs?'. The facade is different for all ladies and fat layers can depend on social status. If they often eat the Big Mac, the fat will naturally form on the bones. Women with a low voice also occur, as do men with a high-pitched squeak. Cheeky? Thai women have also stopped talking about their mouths for a long time.
And finally, what's wrong with a ladyboy? Still nothing at all?
I have been living with a ladyboy for thirteen years. Most of them feel like women and act accordingly, and I consider her my wife too. And it's like other types of people: there's a lot in between. But if you take them for who they are, you will also get a good relationship in return.
I could easily go for that beautiful one in the photo next to Bangkok, 28 degrees. Pleasant appearance.