Identity diversification among transgender sex workers in Thailand’s sex tourism industry

Abstract

This article looks at identity diversification among Thai (MTF) transgender sex workers who are in a semi-reassigned physical state; working in two famous sex tourism hot spots in Thailand. Locating the informants in their own gender system, then drawing on western queer and transgender theories, we examine the negotiation of gender and identity in this unique cultural, historical and political context. The research shows that the sex industry facilitates the emergence of new third-gender identities among MTF sex workers. The research finds that core gender identity, embodiment and preferred sexual practices are mutable but vary together. The research reinforces the centrality of the body in transgender studies, but highlights problems of cross-cultural differences in gender concepts.

Cisgender male and transgender female sex workers in South Africa: gender variant identities and narratives of exclusion

“…Here, the literature tends to focus on ideas around embodiment with the aim of expanding conceptualisations of gender through positing gender performativity as a legitimate freestanding gender marker (e.g. embodying a female aesthetic and identifying as such, modifying the body through gender reassignment surgery, and performing heterosexual sex) (Ocha 2013;Ocha and Earth 2013). Literature on sex work from other contexts has considered the experiences of MSM and transgender women (often, and incorrectly, together), however, this literature has primarily been concerned with how non-conforming gender identities influence sexual practices (see: Baral et al 2014 andDecker et al 2014).…”

Orientalist obsessions: fabricating hyper-reality and performing hyper-femininity in Thailand's kathoey tourism

“…I gave up sexual pleasure and a piece of my soul to earn a living as a prostitute [in the tourism industry]' (Aldous et al 2008, 152). Moreover, depending on the availability of financial resources and their ability to gain access to affordable health care services, it is not uncommon for some kathoeys to be dissatisfied with the outcome of the surgical procedures that they have undergone (Ocha and Earth 2012). Further, due to an intensive re-sculpting of the body, even in semi-reassigned ones, many do not have a very long life expectancy.…”

“…In this regard, there is some potential for the stubborn dichotomies of masculinityfemininity and heterosexuality-homosexuality to be dismantled. Hence, some scholars have tacitly indicated that kathoey tourism affords a conducive space for the emergence of variegated gender and sexual subjectivities that may include more liminal, complex and alternative positionalities (O'Flaherty 1990;Manderson 1992Manderson , 1995Ocha and Earth 2012;Ocha 2014). It has even been implied that kathoeys could be forerunners in the pursuit of gender equality and erotic justice, a pursuit that is firmly transnational in nature.…”

“…This may end up reifying the very gender categories it strives to dismantle (Butler 1990;Schacht 2002). In tandem with the medicalization of everyday life and an attempt to keep up with American standards, individuals will have to be professionally diagnosed with gender identity disorder before sex reassignment surgeries can take place in Thai medical establishments (Ocha and Earth 2012;Käng 2012). Relatedly, the implementation of this stipulation since 1975 does not take into consideration gender as a continuum but instead necessarily forces kathoeys to fit neatly into one of the two binary categories of gender, at least for the sake of obtaining the surgery.…”

“…Meanwhile, a burgeoning body of work has just begun to attend to the proliferation of non-normative sexualities from the 'Global South' and there have been some attempts to situate kathoeys within landscapes of global tourism (Jackson 2011;Ocha and Earth 2012;Ocha 2012Ocha , 2013Ocha , 2014Spanger 2013). This paper aims to extend the literature by offering a postcolonial analysis of transgender bodily labour, which has yet to be systematically explored.…”