Jim Beaux
11-03-2008, 03:44 PM
Source http://intersections.anu.edu.au/issue14/winter.htm
Thanks to Ecstatic for posting the link.
Thailand 63 million, ranked 20th in world by population.
195 mtf TS in Thailand and 147 mtf TS in the Philippines were asked (2001-2003) why they thought they were TS. In (Catholic) Philippines almost no one gave an answer that culture was supportive (family, friends, relatives). In (Buddhist) Thailand, a large percentage cited cultural support as one contributor.
In brief, Buddhism does not prohibit same sex relations, does not prohibit sex outside of procreation, transsexualism is largely seen as a normal cycle that all people go through for misdeeds in a prior life, and there is an element that the individual and society should accept it and get on with it.
Thai law has had limited interference from societies with legal systems based on Christianity or Islam. A law against homosexuality was introduced (in the period 1900-1910), no one was ever prosecuted under it, and it was repealed in 1956 in a purge of anachronistic edicts.
There are other constraints e.g. names to be clearly masculine or clearly feminine (cannot be used by both) and as at the report date, transwomen were classified as having a permanent mental deficiency to excuse them from military service, which greatly impaired their ability to get work. (This has now changed.)
The report uses kathoey for transwomen, but makes clear that this has a couple of negative connotations transwomen would reject, and that the report focuses on what the West would call transsexual i.e. those identifying/living as female.
Access to higher education is easier for Thai TS. Access to religion – Buddhism – is nearly without restriction. Although not recognised in law, Buddhist monks can bless a marriage between a man and transwoman.
The TS women self identified as woman 47%, woman of the second kind 36%, and 12% as kathoey (not a real man).
When Thai transwomen came out 6 out of 10 mothers accepted/encouraged transsexualism, rising to 8 out of 10 when the survey was conducted. For fathers, the respective figures were 4 and 6. Support from parents, siblings, other relatives and friends was one of the contributing reasons quoted as the reason for being TS.
Thanks to Ecstatic for posting the link.
Thailand 63 million, ranked 20th in world by population.
195 mtf TS in Thailand and 147 mtf TS in the Philippines were asked (2001-2003) why they thought they were TS. In (Catholic) Philippines almost no one gave an answer that culture was supportive (family, friends, relatives). In (Buddhist) Thailand, a large percentage cited cultural support as one contributor.
In brief, Buddhism does not prohibit same sex relations, does not prohibit sex outside of procreation, transsexualism is largely seen as a normal cycle that all people go through for misdeeds in a prior life, and there is an element that the individual and society should accept it and get on with it.
Thai law has had limited interference from societies with legal systems based on Christianity or Islam. A law against homosexuality was introduced (in the period 1900-1910), no one was ever prosecuted under it, and it was repealed in 1956 in a purge of anachronistic edicts.
There are other constraints e.g. names to be clearly masculine or clearly feminine (cannot be used by both) and as at the report date, transwomen were classified as having a permanent mental deficiency to excuse them from military service, which greatly impaired their ability to get work. (This has now changed.)
The report uses kathoey for transwomen, but makes clear that this has a couple of negative connotations transwomen would reject, and that the report focuses on what the West would call transsexual i.e. those identifying/living as female.
Access to higher education is easier for Thai TS. Access to religion – Buddhism – is nearly without restriction. Although not recognised in law, Buddhist monks can bless a marriage between a man and transwoman.
The TS women self identified as woman 47%, woman of the second kind 36%, and 12% as kathoey (not a real man).
When Thai transwomen came out 6 out of 10 mothers accepted/encouraged transsexualism, rising to 8 out of 10 when the survey was conducted. For fathers, the respective figures were 4 and 6. Support from parents, siblings, other relatives and friends was one of the contributing reasons quoted as the reason for being TS.