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“Ladyboys”, an original 6-part factual series – AB
“Ladyboys”, an original 6-part factual series looking at the lives of Thailand’s ladyboys. The series, originally aired in May [2012] on Sky Living HD (UK), gives an insight into a sector of Thai society which makes up 1 per cent of the population.
Although pre and post op transsexuals are openly accepted by Thai society, ladyboys are not officially recognised as women, even after they have a sex change, and the series follows the ladyboys who are challenging perceptions and campaigning for the law to change.
It also looks at the relationships that are formed between Thai ladyboys and Western men, looking further than the ‘sex tourism’ stereotype at the bonds that are formed and the tender relationships that develop.
And as Thailand leads the world in sex reassignment surgery, the series spends time with people from all over the world who make the pilgrimage to change gender and their lives forever.
As many ladyboys fight for official acceptance, they also struggle to make a life for themselves in traditional careers. So the series also look at the worlds where lady boys can find financial success – visiting the resort of Pattaya where ladyboys from all over the world gather annually to compete for the title of Miss International Queen. Instant fame and celebrity status awaits the winner, like that of Nong Poy, Thailand’s most famous lady boy TV Star.
The series is currently being rebroadcasted in Australia by ABC2 Fridays 9:30pm and repeated Tuesdays 11:00pm on ABC2
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7 Replies
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Bambi, I watched that last night and it was an interesting programme quite apart from the fact the 3 girls interviewed were so attractive and passable.
It showed that while they are accepted, the government still treats them as men unlike here in Oz.
I certainly was impressed by how successful Nok has been. Well worth the time to watch.
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I too watched the program & found it to be aiming in a direction that will help Tg people. The title ‘Ladyboys’ may or may not benefit Tg people but at least the program is not too sensationalist.
I have lived & worked in Thailand & my partner of 22 years is Thai, the program helped my partner because she had mostly thought of ‘Kathoey’ (ladyboys) in relation to the sex industry. Not because she is unwilling to understand but because that is the general perception.
I suspect that perception may also exist here in Australia to some extent. I mean nothing against those who work in the sex industry but as a rule it’s not beneficial for society to assume that’s what we all do.I understand why many Tg people hide but it is possible that by living in a manner that (when discovered) gives the impression that we think that we should be hidden, that the public then think ‘well, they know they are weird & so they hide – that’s the evidence that they are weird’.
Just like Nok, Tg people individually need to find ways to assert themselves & present to the rest of society as being a normal person with a varied understanding & display of their gender.
I’m hoping that the program will also portray Tg people other than TS. -
It’s also available on iView
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/series/11984 -
I watched with fascination. …Of course I have known about these girls for many years, I have seen so many on the ladyboy sex sites that we all know, …it never really occurred to me just how prevalent this ‘condition‘ is in Thailand. I write ‘condition’ in italics because there is no other word my pea-brain can think up to describe our crazy lives, ….we must all agree that medical science may never, ever get to unravel fully the mysteries of the Transgender Being. (Nor of Gay, Lesbian, or Intersex for that matter).
However, although yes, …this is an excellent informative and glossy documentary, – my congratulations and thanks to the ABC – I just couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness for myself and my own personal situation.
Here I am at age 60, …I have finally admitted to myself after years of inner turmoil and outward struggle, …that has only brought pain, misery and suffering to my loved ones and me, ….that I WAS born in the wrong body, that the path that was given me at conception WAS that of a female, and that I should have ALWAYS followed that gender path.
As I look at myself in the mirror and recount the years of unkindness to my body and my face, the massive overload of baggage I still carry from my years of male existence, …I try as best I can to juggle my life now as the personna I desire and the one whom everyone thinks I am. My eyesight is poor nowadays so I usually make a hash of my make up, trying so hard to cover and make good the damage of years of smoking and sunlight (my mum never told me to moisturise), and then also the inevitable shaving knicks …. to have to watch my diet and exercise away the stomach bulge so at least I can slip into that beautiful little strapless dress I found in the opshop, …(mutton dressed as lamb), …I would KILL just to have the good looks and body those Thai girls have.
Does this all sound so familiar ?? I don’t need to watch this program to know how it well end, I don’t need to be reminded that I have made some wrong choices in my life, …and how very much I wish that things had been different for me …I can now only hope that those who come after me will have an easier time of it, and be allowed to live a rich, full and rewarding life in the gender of their choice, … and also that world opinion regarding Transgender, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Intersex people will eventually change for the better, that Homophobia will give way to acceptance, …for we are people too, and we didn’t ever choose this life of misery, it was what was laid down for us, before we were even born.
Jannine Jones
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I have been aware of the Lady-boys for some time now but I did not realise that they were not allowed to identify as women. This comes as a surprise when I think of the advances in SRS etc in Thailand.
I would also like to say Jannine, that I do think that your sentiments were well worth praising.
Quote:I can now only hope that those who come after me will have an easier time of it, and be allowed to live a rich, full and rewarding life in the gender of their choice, … and also that world opinion regarding Transgender, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Intersex people will eventually change for the better, that Homophobia will give way to acceptance, …for we are people too, and we didn’t ever choose this life of misery, it was what was laid down for us, before we were even born.We can only hope that this happens sooner than later.
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I too witnessed this program on Friday night (even though most of it was listening from the hallway while painting) with my wife and her sister. At the start my sister in law was quite judgemental and was poking fun at the girls on the show but towards the end she had changed her tune and actually felt quite sorry for them.
It turned out to be the topic of conversation for the next couple of days as new people turned up to help with the painting. All in all I think if people could be maybe introduced to the series, even if they feel uncomfortable about the subject, it would go a long way to easing peoples fear of the unknown. -
I agree with Danni. Our biggest problem is that people are very judgemental and nieve about us.It is the world of unknown and until people see that we are normal people trying to blend in normal society and we are not a threat or dangerous.
One day we will be fully accepted.
