Richard Totman - The Third Sex: Kathoey: Thailand's Ladyboys

2003, 2011, English, Richard Totman, Thailand,

Full title: "The Third Sex: Kathoey: Thailand's Ladyboys". The book was published in 2003 and republished in 2011.

"The kathoey, the Thai term for ladyboys, have long been part of the cultural landscape of Thailand. Though they're a leading tourist attraction, the glamorous and attractive men who are now women are also a modern expression of an archaic tradition. Who are the ladyboys? Richard Totman introduces us to three individuals who started life as boys, but while at school decided to become kathoey.

In The Third Sex, we follow their rites-of-passage as they become fully fledged kathoey, as their adult lives are witness to attitudes towards trans-gender in Thailand and the Western world. The Third Sex is a perceptive, accessible guide to the cultural, historical, religious, biological, and psychological aspects of being trans-gender. The description of the kathoey is part of a wider discussion on trans-gender.

'Third sex' groups form part of many ancient communities, originating in beliefs that pre-date doctrinaire religions. Some religions, such as Buddhism, embrace trans-gendered individuals, but the role of other religions has led to persecution and repression. Many communities accept a 'third sex', from Thailand and Samoa to American Indians and the Philippines. Only in the West has savage repression occurred."

"Blurring of the gender boundaries has also been noted in historical documents from the 16th century in Thailand, writes Totman, so the kathoey phenomenon is not new. Interestingly, Buddhist thinking actually encompasses four genders, male, female, male kathoey and female transgenders. An observation that is probably much closer to reality than most people imagine. He also spends much of the book looking at the connection between animism, which is still very strong in Thai society, shamanism and the kathoey movement.

Totman takes three kathoey to be examined in depth, though again, much of these chapters remain anecdotal, rather than truly scientific studies, but his examination does show them to be ‘normal’ human beings, subject to all the stresses of Thai society, including poverty and thus pushed into prostitution, though to his credit, Totman does show that prostitution is often taken up as an ‘easy way’ to make money (as it is for the male and female population). Interestingly, Totman quotes that only 5 percent of prostitution is for the tourist market, with the other 95 percent being for the Thai population exclusively."

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