Thai Ladyboys

The concept of three sexes is ancient in Thailand. Creation tales tell of a man and woman who had three children: a male, a female and a third sex. This third sex is considered by many Thais to be the ladyboy (or katoey). The term katoey is a slang word for a man who chooses to live as a woman. This can mean anything from the guy who wears drag for fun once in a while, right through to transexuals who have had a complete sex change operation. A katoey will often begin to take female hormones around puberty to inhibit masculine growth. Many will later have breast implants and some, but not all, will have full sex-reassignment surgery to complete their transformation. One belief is that these 'women of the second category' had affairs with many women in their past lives. Estimates put the number of ladyboys in Thailand at close to 200 000 individuals. No one really seems to know why Thailand has so many ladyboys. Thailand is a Buddhist country where tolerance prevails and katoey are often accepted as part of Thai society. Nevertheless, beneath this formal acceptance, there is an undertow of prejudice. And, presumably seeking an environment where they fit in and are accepted, many katoey end up as performers and sex workers.