Book description
The Kathoey, Thailand's Ladyboys, have long been part of Thailand's
cultural landscape. Richard Totman introduces three ladyboys, and
follows their development towards becoming fully fledged kathoey.
Placing their lives in the context of the cultural, historical,
religious, biological and psychological aspects of trans-gender. The
kathoey serve as part of a wider discussion on trans-gender, and the
presence of 'third-sex' groups in many ancient communities,
originating in beliefs that pre-date doctrinaire religion. If the
existence of a 'third sex' is a universal norm, is Western society
repressed while the Thais represent a norm in nature?
Richard Totman was a Prize Research Fellow at Nuffield College,
Oxford, a Fellow of Linacre College, Oxford and a lecturer at the
University of Sussex.
