Kathoey

Kathoey is a Thai term used to describe people assigned male at birth who identify and present themselves as female, or who express themselves with a feminine gender presentation. The word is commonly translated as “ladyboy” in English, but it does not map perfectly onto Western concepts of transgender identity. Kathoey can refer to transgender women as well as to some individuals who are gender-nonconforming or effeminately expressive men; not everyone who cross-dresses would identify as kathoey.

In Thai society, kathoey have long been visible in various sectors, including entertainment, beauty, fashion, and service industries. They may live openly as women in daily life or maintain a more flexible gender presentation in different settings. Crowdsourced performances, such as cabaret shows, are well known in tourist areas, and many kathoey contribute to media, fashion, and entrepreneurship. Attitudes toward kathoey vary regionally and personally, encompassing admiration, tolerance, discomfort, and stigma.

Legal and social status for kathoey is nuanced and evolves over time. Thai society generally recognizes the gendered expectations associated with femininity, yet formal legal recognition of gender change remains limited, and discrimination in education, employment, and housing can occur. Rights advocacy and community organizations work toward greater acceptance, access to healthcare, and anti-discrimination protections. The term itself can be used neutrally, affectionately, or pejoratively, depending on context and tone, so sensitivity to individual preferences is important.