Thailand is widely known for its transsexual ladyboys or katoey as they are called in Thai. In contradiction to most Western countries, Thai society is fairly tolerant towards its transgendered citizens. A katoey can walk in public without having to fear verbal, psychological or physical harassment. But despite a widespread basic tolerance towards the katoey, the acceptance does not extend into professional life, where even katoeys who hold university degrees find it difficult getting jobs. The popular conception is that ladyboys belong in the “entertainment industry”. Whereas it is obviously stigmatizing for a woman to work in the sex industry it is almost expected of a katoey. Many katoeys grow up believing in this and often take on their “designated roles” without much hesitance. Their lifelong battle for recognition and acceptance is fuelling their sense of belonging in the sex industry – when they are being picked up by a client they make the fact that they are being paid for sex into proof that they are attractive.
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