Bangkok Podcast 59: Transgender Lifestyles

The image of a beautiful Thai women is one that is known
throughout the world; however, only slightly less well known is
the image of a beautiful Thai women who was born a man. Call them
what you willl - transexual, transgender, ladyboy, katoey - their
place in Thai culture goes back thousands of years, but despite
the history, and despite Thailand being very accepting of them,
it's not always an easy life.


On this episode we're joined by Ms. Prem, a transgender lady who
was born a man but now lives as a woman. We have a fascinating
chat with Prem about her life and the difficulties she faces
everyday, not least of which is the perception that all
transgenders are only capable of prostitution, beauty pagents, or
hair salons. Prem - who has a very good job with a high-level
international agency - has fought against this stereotype and has
seen progress, although it's slow going.


She also talks openly about how she grew up knowing she was
different than other boys, how the media's perception of what is
beautiful creates stereotypes, what it's like dating men who may
or may not know her past, her experience fighting a military
draft that labels all transgenders as mentally unstable, and what
she thinks about *that scene* in the Hangover 2.