When I told my friends that I am planning a longer stay in Thailand, it is surprising how many times I heard the same stupid reply - "watch out for them ladyboys!" Again and again I heard a comment that silly, until actually started to grill. All do the same stupid joke, as if it were intelligent and original. That ridiculous stereotype of Thailand, I thought. As if you can take ladyboys everywhere.

The funny thing is that if I go to Thailand, I just found outkatoeys ladyboys or, as is known in Thailand are really everywhere. Is not just a handful of them working the tourist resorts. You will see that work in shops and restaurants. Even if you go into the land you will find katoeys. Are really everywhere.

In fact, I had not been here long before I had a personal acquaintance who was a Katoey. One of the things I noticed was how comfortable other Thais were in her company. Straight Thai men were very happycongratulate you and tell you how beautiful you looked. They all called her "she" as is kind and have made happy.

Personally, I was initially a bit 'uncomfortable in his presence. I was not afraid they would jump on me. He was a pleasant and balanced. I was just a little 'uncertain how to deal with it. E 'was the fascinating way, Thais treated her that soon reassured me.

What is a Katoey? "

What exactly is a Katoey? I had this discussionWestern with some friends recently. Both live in Phuket and they both said that you can only call a person Katoey that it has undergone gender change, otherwise you should use the term ladyboy. I have the distinct feeling is a Western invention. Katoey is a Thai word and that is not so used.

Thais use the term much more relaxed. You use the term for any man who acts like a woman. Transgender man is probably the closest English term. The men, the gender changeSurgeons katoeys. To those who take hormones to create female attributes such as breasts. For those who are dressed like a woman. Even gay men who need a little 'make-up and valance are made around katoeys known.

Why Katoeys many in Thailand?

According to this definition, there are some very katoeys in Thailand. Because this phenomenon is much more common than in other countries? It seems unlikely that there is a genetic reason for Thailand,Transgender people have more than other countries. I think the reason is still much to do with the tolerant attitude of the Thais.

There are many Katoey TV stars, singers and models. Also beauty contests Katoey. There have been several films Katoey, like "Beautiful Boxer", which is the true story of a Katoey who became a champion Muay Thai fighter. She would often kiss her defeated opponents.

Katoeys seem to be widely accepted part of Thai society. This is probablypartly to do with the Buddhist religion and its preaching of tolerance towards others. But other countries with a strong Buddhist influence (Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Laos, Japan) is not known for their ladyboys.

There must be something else at work. I believe that an important factor is the Thai belief that life is funny (should be sanook). See if they have a Katoey, they think it is fun. You can laugh and joke, but not so bad. Are certainly not complaining orThreats of what can happen in western countries.

So that the main reason why there are so many katoeys in Thailand is simply that Thai society is open and tolerant to them. One wonders how many transvestites there might in the West, if our companies have received a bit 'more.

How Katoeys work in Phuket?

In the wake of the tsunami tragedy and the media Feeding Frenzy that followed, a friend sent me an article by a British newspaper. TheReporter was in Phuket and obviously struggling to compete for attention with journalists in the main areas affected. So he did, that was a lot of reporters in Phuket and started on the seedier side of the local nightlife. Right to what had to deal with the tsunami tragedy, I can not do.

This particular reporter seemed to be fascinated with the ladyboy scene. He made a few generalizations about the nightlife of Phuket, which was really all over the island Sewer of debauchery. He said that was 5000 ladyboys who work in the sex industry in Phuket and a great demand for their services.

Where did he get that number? Seems a very bold claim. There is a census? It is the authorities ladyboy? I doubt there was a reliable statistics available for this journalist. Like most of his report, I believe that just failed, but so far apparently seen enough to believe ladyboys around, it was a reasonable estimate al.

Population> Phuket high season is estimated at about 500,000. A 5000 of them are ladyboys then that would be 1% of the population. That seems very unlikely but not unthinkable. But actually said 5000 working in the sex industry. Where was this army of ladyboys available?

At Soi Katoey in Bangla Road, Patong, there are always some balls on the front of the SOI. There is another bar on the back and Katoey ladyboy show at Moulin Rouge. But certainlyhigher estimate could not, there are more than 50 ladyboys working in Soi Katoey. There are perhaps 30 Implementation Simon Ladyboy Cabaret Show is - that even the sex industry are? For the sake of argument, let's say it does. Then there's the gay area around Soi Paradise. There are many ladyboys around this area, but I believe that an estimate of 100 would have been very generous.

There are a few freelance ladyboys fronts along the beach where annoy passing drunks. But in reality,not exist in a very high number. Let's be generous and say once again 100. I missed any? Maybe there are some plants, around the opposite sex.

Even if we think of numbers, we have a very generous estimate of 300 ladyboys, in the sex industry. I think that probably is very generous. Many of the figures mentioned above are probably the same katoeys move from one place to another, and I think I have overestimated all my assumptions. The total number coulda minimum of 100

So I would say somewhere between 100-300 katoeys working in the sex industry in Phuket. Probably not, but then 5000 a value of 100 would not be a good press.

Men and Katoeys

As for the demand for Katoeys? Is there really a lot of people looking for their services? Since most common approach seems to be trying to deceive people very drunk, I would think that their performance is not heavily in demand. I have met few men who were sexuallyMeetings with katoeys. Most of them say it was a drunken mistake.

I meet a man who has happily announced that he had just been blown 'off' by two katoeys in his hotel room. He was rather proud of themselves and certainly not to say that was a mistake. They meet some strange characters in Patong.

I think there are some real demand katoeys. Even if they are active in the gay area, I think it is purely a matter gay. Even if they are facts, such as women, I think itone thing straight. But it is difficult to define a group of men, katoeys find attractive. Sure, there are a lot of curiosity about them. Each month will bring the word "Katoey" in the top 20 list of keywords that people are our site in Phuket. And we have only a small section on katoeys.

Negative

Although katoeys are generally well accepted in Thai society is still a downside to their reputation. They have a reputation for bitchyand unreliable. I have personally met a few during my years in Thailand and I must say that on the outside everything seemed well adjusted and happy. However, I also heard many stories of katoeys involved in criminal activities like theft and pickpocketing others. E 'also known to harass and threaten passers-by late at night in search of customers along the beach fronts.

These things happen, certainly, but the extent of the problem is unclear. Ifkatoeys really committed crimes on a scale greater than other Thais is hard to judge.

They also have a reputation as an emotional imbalance. As I said, all those I met seemed in order. But I think it's fair to say that the burdens of their lives are very demanding and it is not surprising that many of them lose emotional control easily.

Tolerance katoeys into Thai society is not absolute. Their families, particularly fathers, sometimes reject it. Menin ways most others are katoeys tolerant, can still find it shameful, a father.

And the tolerance of the authorities has its limits. Katoey when a softball team won the national championship, two of the group were selected for the national team. The government intervened and blocked their selection. They do not want good for the country's image.

Saving Private Tootsie

In 2002, there was a Thai film with the English title of "Saving Private Tootsie". InRate this movie, a plane crash strands a group of katoeys in the jungle of a war-torn neighboring countries. A group of macho Thai soldiers sent to rescue them. The story revolves around the personality clashes between katoeys cliffs and macho men as they try to escape this neighboring country.

In the end, pulling all work together for the last ferry back to Thailand. The soldiers put aside their distaste for the katoeys and its leader returns home, in order to be accepted at the endSon, also a Katoey.

The film is a message of tolerance, Thai society is typical. At the end of the film is a quote from a nice Katoey. "Maybe I was born in the wrong body, but at least I was born in the country right."