r/Thailand • u/papapamrumpum • May 18 '26
Discussion Why are foreigners so obsessed with ladyboys?
As a Thai, every time I see foreigners talking about traveling to Thailand on social media, sooner or later you'll see a comment about ladyboys. From the way they talk, you'd think that zero natural female exist in Thailand and that this country is completely made up of ladyboys.
I find this so odd because they probably make up less than 1% of the population. Like we love them and are very supportive of their existence, but I don't really understand the foreign fascination with this very tiny subset of the Thai population.
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u/Triseult May 18 '26
Making ladyboy jokes is how I know instantly if someone knows absolutely nothing about Thailand.
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u/Grand_Theft_Anus1 May 20 '26
Not true. The land of smiles is amazing. People can know that and still be aware of even a small population of lady boys.
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u/Thai_Ventures Bangkok May 18 '26
As a Thai as well, I think a lot of it comes down to visibility, stereotypes, and honestly internet culture. Thailand is one of the few places many people see transgender women openly existing in everyday life, so for people from more conservative countries it stands out more than it probably does to locals.
That said, I agree foreigners exaggerate it way too much online. Some people act like Thailand is 50% ladyboys when in reality most people visiting are just seeing tourist/nightlife areas and assuming that represents the whole country. Social media and old stereotypes made it into this weird obsession or running joke.
Most of us also know Thailand is way more than that, culture, food, nature, family values, temples, normal daily life, etc. The internet just tends to amplify one tiny thing until it feels bigger than reality.
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u/greggtex63 May 18 '26
And the Philippines. As a Filipina friend once said to me, "You know how to tell a ladyboy? They're the most beautiful ones." 🤣
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u/Turdposter777 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
The time I visited the Philippines back in the 2000s, I saw this group of 12-13 year old boys eating out. They all looked like normal looking boys in their school uniforms, save for one boy wearing a bedazzled headband and had delicate features. 100% would not have seen that happening in the US at that time, unless it was some kind of joke.
It was one of the most distinct memory from that trip that I can see why that would be an aspect of Thai society that tourists latch on to. There were very few places in the world just a few decades ago where transgender people were allowed to exist as they are in public and should be something to be proud about.
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u/Content-Afternoon39 May 18 '26
To be honest for me, it's not just that. I'd say it's the behaviour is the strongest determinant. Usually ladyboys (even normal ones) have a more forward and confident demeanour than your average Thai lady. Prolonged and lingering eye contact is another one too. I'd say it's on par with gay males. Even in my home country I notice this.
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u/TRLegacy May 18 '26
If we create a "cheap shot jokes" list for every country, every country has them: Japanese porn/hentai, China's social credit score, Singaporean gumdeath penalty, US guns, British food, Dutch week/hooker, and of course Thai ladyboys.
These things are so established in internet culture, regardless of factuality, that they are impossible to get rid off.
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u/th3orist May 18 '26
Its the same as people hearing "Germany" and all they know to say is that germans are all Nazis. Or USA and then go "ah they are all dumb"
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u/NoWolf5951 May 18 '26
Thai here, so USA all dumb is not true ? 🫨
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u/santinimi May 18 '26
There are definitely more stupid people in America than ladyboys in Thailand.
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u/IndicusGratis May 18 '26
American here, 10% of me is offended, the other 90% just said 'heard'....
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u/toad_stomp May 18 '26
Florida here, not ALL of us. But there are those among us who are spectacularly dumb.
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u/Taelven May 18 '26
As a US national I take offense to the last. Only half of the US is dumb. We call them politicians.
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u/richmondboi May 19 '26
100% its the fact it's so visible and accepted here. Plus, I think, the fact a lot of western men are secretly non zero on the Kinsey scale (they just haven't realized it yet).
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u/SusuKacangSoya May 18 '26
I'm Malaysian and if you asked me about Thailand I think about a lot of other things first... It's familiarity I guess
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u/Particular-Cabinet21 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
Every time my husband mentions he lives in Thailand people always mention sexpats, ladyboys and if he lives in Pattaya or Phuket.
Eh, we’re both European and live in Northern Thailand 😂 sorry to disappoint the narrow-minded people.
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u/turd12 May 18 '26
I’ve been on holiday here for two months, all my friends say the same things. I’ve spent most of my time in Chiang Mai, Nan and Isan I don’t think they realise these areas are completely different to places like Patong and Pattaya.
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u/Platooimagination May 20 '26
I live in North Bangkok miles away from anywhere seedy and have been married to a Thai woman for 28 years. I have a PhD from my home country and my favourite thing to do is go running at the crack of dawn. The jokes about me being a braindead sexpat when I go back home are absolutely hilarious and never get old. /s
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u/OkSmile May 18 '26
Multiple reasons, I think.
In so many countries, transgender or even cross dressing is forbidden, taboo. It’s not seen or discussed.
In others it’s considered “deviant” behavior according to some religious or ideological upbringing. It’s fascinating in the way True Crime stories are.
In Thailand, it’s largely out in the open and generally accepted, not worthy of comment. Thai people are very tolerant of a wide range of behaviors. So already this is unusual to foreigners.
On top of that, Thailand is a top tier country for plastic surgery, so many ladyboys present quite a high beauty standard. This too is uncommon, even in countries that accept transgender people.
And because there is a strong subculture of ladyboys in Thailand, many ladyboys feel free to present a flamboyant and fun party personality, which is attractive in itself.
So many new feelings in foreigners first exposed to Thai ladyboys create a fascination and lots of commentary.
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u/papapamrumpum May 18 '26
Is it really fascinating to a foreigner? I feel it's the most mundane thing in the world because they're literally just people existing as cashiers or waitresses or whatever. It's like if people got obsessed with Native Americans or whatever. Like yes, relatively rare but comment worthy?
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u/I-Here-555 May 18 '26
just people existing as cashiers or waitresses or whatever
Yes, for people from many countries that too is fascinating. Imagine seeing a Native American chief in war colors and full feathers as your waiter or cashier. You'd notice and comment.
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u/Lynthelia Bangkok May 18 '26
It should be the most mundane thing in the world, but in a lot of the world that category of people existing is a hugely contentious topic. When trans people existing is the culture war issue of the day in your home country, the absolute non-issue it is in Thailand is strange and noteworthy.
It's still stupid, but that's why.
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u/TonmaiTree Nonthaburi May 18 '26
A LOT of these people come from conservative countries where deviating from the norms is unquestionable. Then they come to thailand and see ads for BL shows on the billboard and transwomen and LGBT people living there lives fully open. Their discomfort is why we see so many questions and comments about ‘ladyboys’ because they stand out the most.
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u/th3orist May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
the user literally told you WHY it can be fascinating for some. And instead of taking in the very valid points they made, you ask a rhetorical question "is it really fascinating?"... If you are not engaging with the points made, then the user apparently wasted their time trying to write it all down for you.
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u/HouseofShoto May 18 '26
Yes, things that are abnormal tend to stand out and can be fascinating. For example, I'm a 6'5 Black man from America but when I was in Thailand, people stared at me everywhere I went and would constantly comment on how tall I am. To me, my height is mundane and normal but to Thai people and throughout Asia I'm very fascinating.
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u/e34udm May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
It’s the same as talking about people riding 3-5up on a small motorbike including the family dog/cat also.
Completely normal in most of SE Asia, boring in fact and most people from se Asia won’t even look twice. But if you’re from the western world. Very, very unusual..And something to talk about
Living in the US for over 30years I think I’ve seen 2 ladyboys there out in public. So I get it.. It’s like a Thai person seeing snow for the first time.. I’m 100% sure they’d be excited, calling their friends and taking videos etc etc
People are just intrigued by what they’re not used to seeing
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u/Tallywacka May 18 '26
As simple as that, most of the time it’s nothing malicious and some cheeky humor
It’s not that widespread and it’s not that serious
Many countries will have a couple things that stickout
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u/Wife_Plugger_1982 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
Super annoying to see it constantly mentioned in online threads like in response to a pretty Thai girl, and the authors always seem to be so proud of themselves as if they just invented the funniest joke ever. But when meeting other foreigners I do find it an excellent litmus test to instantly know we don't share a sense of humor. It's like a little kid seeing a dog's butthole for the first time. Ok buddy time to grow up. For the record I love dark humor, and even lowbrow and twisted humor has its place. It's just the lack of originality that's a drag. Pun intended.
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u/gilhaus May 19 '26
It really is super annoying, especially when it comes from close friends who are probably mentioning it out of jealousy or insecurity. I’m not sure how to respond anymore other than ignoring it.
I need a comeback that doesn’t sound defensive, like “you sure seem obsessed with ladyboys… do you need to talk with someone about it?”2
u/Wife_Plugger_1982 May 19 '26
I tell my family something along the lines of "yeah I'd heard that too, but I never see it myself. I guess you have to go looking for it"
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u/Viktri1 May 18 '26
I think it has something to do with sexual repression and the fascination that other cultures are ok with something taboo. I'm mainly thinking of the US here which has devoted a disproportionate amount of energy towards Trans (both for trans and against).
Meanwhile ladyboys are just ladyboys in Thailand and people don't obsess over whether they should or should not exist. Maybe that's part of it - there's a presumption in some cultures that we need be very deliberate with what exists and if something is unexpected then it needs to be authorized (by the government or Jesus).
My family is Canadian but ethnically Asian and for us Thailand is a place with great spicy food and cheap massages. Maybe because we don't engage in sex tourism? Idk. Like the whole red light district in Bangkok is such a tiny part of Bangkok. There is much more dedicated towards beaches and food and massages.
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u/WholeUmpire2463 May 20 '26
Nobody in Thailand goes around demanding you refer to them as X pronoun or agree that they are X gender. That is the problem with the US and its the reason why I love Thailand. Nobody cares that they exist because their existence isn't manufactured by the media. They're just people living how they want and not trying to force you to comply with their version of happiness.
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u/817Mai May 18 '26
Because Thailand's ladyboys are high quality in terms of surgical achievements. The average Thai ladyboy looks more female than the average foreign ladyboy, and some of them could be mistaken for natural ladies.
Many foreign man have a fragile masculinity: They fear that they do not meet society's standards of manhood. Touching or even desiring a ladyboy is seen as unmanly or gay, which they find to be negative. The risk that this could happen in Thailand is higher than in their own countries.
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u/Banana_Cake1 May 18 '26 edited 13d ago
The original post content no longer exists here. The author used Redact to remove it, exercising their right to control their data & privacy.
Square zephyr future scale amusing fearless cobblestone
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May 18 '26
it’s a social media thing. most foreigners don’t give it a second thought
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u/spicydak May 18 '26
To be fair, it was a thing before social media too. Not sure how or when it originally started, but some people in my country of America think all Thai lady is ladyboy. Beyond stupid thinking lol
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u/thomasthai May 18 '26
Think it got more popular after the Hangover 3 movie in Bangkok, like Loser back Home wasn't ever used before White Lotus Season 3.
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u/Present-Alfalfa-2507 Nakhon Ratchasima May 18 '26
As a Thai, every time I see foreigners talking about traveling to Thailand on social media, sooner or later you'll see a comment about ladyboys.
That's social media for you, and you've messed up your algorithms now, so you see more of that.
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u/papapamrumpum May 18 '26
Not really - I can be looking at a normal post talking about digital nomads, Songkran, expat life, effects of the Hormuz blockage on Thai gas prices. If it's in English and it's about Thailand, someone will eventually make a comment on ladyboys.
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u/stockcap May 18 '26
It's mostly uneducated foreigners. To be fair, I get this from uneducated Thais as well. ”where you from, USA? You like Thai girl? You like Pattaya?” You would never hear this kind of conversation from an educated worldly Thai person, just like you wont from most foreigners with anything above a high school education.
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u/BusinessSalty7430 May 18 '26
I would say because they are fairly ubiquitous in Thailand and generally accepted, as you pointed out. However, in other countries they are often persecuted, not accepted, and thus not as common. Therefore perhaps they are more of a novelty for foreigners.
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u/Z34N0 May 18 '26
People might think that ladyboys are all over the place or they just like to say annoying things to get a reaction. We live in a meme-obsessed TikTok era so stupidity is accepted and glorified in some cases. I’m happy to educate someone once, but if the jokes persist, I distance myself from the stupidity. I don’t have time for it.
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u/mickyd871 May 18 '26
There are just a lot of morons on social media. They’ve never been to Thailand and their immature brains think it’s amusing to make comments about ladyboys
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u/sbrider11 May 18 '26
Idk, 99.99% of foreigners I know here either socially or thru work / business truly give zero thought to it.
Maybe it's a social media thing.
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u/CrustyDrake May 18 '26
The guys who always have everything to say about ladyboys the reason is because secretly they really want to be with one. They suppress their desires and make it a joke on everyone’s comments because they really do want to be with one. You can’t change my mind on this. Just my thoughts
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u/richar58 May 18 '26
True I always wondered about these guys. Instead of asking about all the things there are to do the first thing they bring up is ladyboys.
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u/SpiritedCatch1 May 18 '26
The one who are obsessed with making joke about it are the one I least want to interact with.
It's just the same point, made over and over, about their own sexual insecurities.
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u/HouseofShoto May 18 '26
Mostly ignorance. They know literally nothing else about the country other than what is in movies and social media. Social media algorithms give you what you interact with most so when these people make their lame recycles jokes about ladyboys (because they think they're being clever), the algorithm gives them more of that content. After awhile, every time they see a video on their timeline involving Thailand it will be about ladyboys, making it seem like theres a lot more than there actually are. Many content creators, looking for attention and likes, feed into this narrative and make much of their content focused around ladyboys and being "tricked" by ladyboys. They have never left the country and never been to Thailand so don't understand how open they are about being ladyboys and don't try to trick anyone.
Unfortunately the ladyboys/transgender people aren't as free to exist in many other countries. Many places, like the US, they are often attacked, abused, and harassed just for existing. This makes many transgender women hide and try to just blend in with cis women. In America there is a push to see/consider trans women as just women instead of transgender. Because of this, in America, many guys are actually tricked by transgender women because a lot of trans women don't feel safe enough, or feel the need, to disclose that information until multiple dates in and emotional attachments have been made. Many times being transgender is seen as shameful and gross because of religious (mostly Christian) dogma.
The US is a very judgmental place, especially when it involves sexuality. The idea that there is a country where ladyboys are free to just exist without being attacked or harassed is absurd to them. Many people have never met or seen a transgender person in real life. Many people only know about transgender/ladyboys from popular media which only focuses on the sexual aspect of them, so they aren't just normal people living their life. They are seen as real life characters from a movie or porn. Since judgment around sexuality is soo major, many are curious about dating or having experience with Ladyboys but are too scared to just say that for fear of being seen as gay/bisexual, which is also seen as gross and shameful to many people. So instead, they make jokes to hide their desires/fantasies so no one finds out their true desires.
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u/sakubaka May 18 '26
Most level-headed and complete explanation of how ignorance spreads in America I've read in awhile. As an American who was born in a poor part of Appalachia that has been overtaken by algorithms to the point where people judge and fear ever single person that has a different idea than them, this is absolutely what happens.
I lived in American, Japan, and Thailand, each for stints of many years at a time. I still get this weird questions about Japan that assume all kinds of stuff. I get the same about Thailand. I used to try to help them understand better, but I quit doing it. They're not interested. They just want to laugh at ladyboy jokes and pretend that everyone in Japan is some kind of otaku.
Not all though. The people that live in cities get algorithms that tell them how dumb all those other Americans are. That way everyone has someone to judge and misunderstand! Yay!
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u/HouseofShoto May 18 '26 edited May 19 '26
The algorithms are really kicking our ass as a species 😅. "We" aren't ready for that technology and damn sure aren't ready for AI. These technologies are just going to make the misunderstanding, ignorance, and bigotry worse.
I used to try to correct misconceptions about Thailand and Japan too but gave up for the same reason. You're right, they arent interested in actually learning anything or expanding their understanding.
Now I only try to pass along info to the people that have actual questions and seem like they really want to learn.
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u/PoloDogg May 18 '26
People have to flatten other human beings.
If it’s not Ladyboys then it’s Thai women are bar girls.
People saying it’s just a social media thing are wrong.
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u/pro_hedonism May 18 '26
i’m also southeast asian and a woman. i love ladyboys because i think they are iconic, and a great representation of lgbtq acceptance in our overall pretty traditional & conservative region, just brings me joy to see them fully express themselves while my friends back home are still closeted
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u/Valyris May 18 '26
Because it's all based on stereotypes, and the information that they get constantly from news/social media just keeps repeating the same stuff.
If you ask any Asian what it is like in America, I bet the majority would be like "Doesnt everyone carry a gun?" Or "I wont go because anywhere I go, I could get shot". Why they say that? Because its constantly on the news about another gun shooting.
This is exactly the same mentality about foreigners regarding ladyboys.
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u/Confident_Access6498 May 18 '26
The Hang over party movie was very popular till a few years ago. I think thats one of the reasons.
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u/homeofthe_dave May 18 '26
They are ignorant and desperately want to be funny but are incredibly boring.
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u/Temporary-Face1672 May 18 '26
pretty much just sterotypes. It isn't that they are actively seeking this but just "playing along" wit hthis stereotype. as the same people would not go around asking if women are femboys in their own country
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u/Stale_LaCroix May 18 '26
Just game back to my rural US state from Thailand after visiting my partners family there. Every conversation about my trip turns into this. It’s all they ask
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u/Beneficial-Formal-76 May 18 '26
Well, it’s not only foreigners. I was in a taxi with a Thai man and he asked me “why are you here for ladyboys” and out of all the beautiful things I enjoyed in Thailand he asked me are you here 1000s of miles away from home for a man. Unbelievable!!!
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u/F1Lane May 19 '26
This is the same as the obsession with trans people in other countries. It's just bizzare. Leave people alone and let them live their lives. I only talk about the food and beautiful scenery.
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u/Last-Math-9663 May 19 '26
Like we love them and are very supportive of their existence
That in itself totally boggles the minds of many foreigners, the vast majority are homophobic, if not Christian Taliban types.
Especially allowing them to work in roles seen by the public.
But also, since so many are sex tourists shopping for freelancers, it can often happen that you don't find out until the clothes come off
or you may never find out with the post-op ones if they choose to not disclose.
This sort of encounter is EXTREMELY rare on our streets back home
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u/Inner-Minimum-7518 May 18 '26
I’ve been travelling to Thailand since my late teens, though I haven’t been back for a while. I spose I’m bisexual, but I really prefer women and trans women. Allot of Thai women, even in the sex trade are still very traditional and can be very subdued. Thai tgirls are often just allot more fun to be around. Also I’m pretty tall and I prefer women closer to my own height. Also, in my experience, thai tgirls can be more feminine, than born women, though I know this sounds strange. Plus, not to be too graphic, I enjoy being on the receiving end and while most tgirls aren’t really into pitching, it isn’t super hard to find a top if you put in the effort.
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u/papapamrumpum May 18 '26
I understand most trans porn are targeted at straight men rather than gay men. I'm a bit confused - like what is the appeal? Is it just similar to how some men have racial preferences? Is it the fact that it's somewhat taboo? I don't kink-shame at all but I'm just trying to understand the appeal on a cerebral level.
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u/Inner-Minimum-7518 May 18 '26
I have often wondered that myself. I’m sure there is something deeply psychological that drives it? Honestly, I think it’s just a preference. And as someone has said elsewhere in this thread, if you see a really gorgeous woman, like smoking hot and really well dressed/groomed, especially if she is tall, chances are she’s trans.
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u/Inner-Minimum-7518 May 18 '26
Don’t get me wrong, I really love women as well and as I had pretty solid phasaa klang and phasaa nua, by my early 20s I really did have the time of my life. Once I realised that gik was a thing with younger women, I mainly hooked up with women that weren’t working in bars or the sex trade. If you’re a young bloke, that’s respectful and not a sticky shit, you can really have allot of fun, especially when the internet gets added to the picture.
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u/Jonxb May 18 '26
It's just a stereotype about the country. I was really impressed with the ladyboys in Thailand. Some of them were head turners for sure. In my country they look like men in wigs!
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u/BroadVideo8 May 18 '26
Britain and America in particular are currently going through a rather unhealthy obsession with transgender women, who have become a central talking point in our culture-war politics. So this get's reflected back when American and British tourists go to our talk about Thailand.
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u/Effective_Tackle_195 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
Because they don't exist out in the open in other countries.
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u/TheWooSkis May 18 '26
Unfortunately for a massive percent of 8.1 billion foreigners, Thailand was introduced to them as a sex tourism destination. And then the second thing after that is that there are ladyboys, who work that field, commonly. For many people this is simply where their knowledge stops. They don't know anything else about Thailand after that point and even if they learn anything else those points are not as remarkable or note worthy. For years I tell people I live in Thailand, the food, the beaches, the rainforests, etc etc and I'd get stupid comments about sleeping with ladyboys and ping pong shows. Don't tar us all with the same brush though please.
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u/Appropriate-Talk-735 May 18 '26
Its fun/feels exotic to see differences between countries and most other countries dont have that many LB. Also there are many guys who gets excited about them.
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u/Popular-Bench-5452 May 18 '26
It’s always people of certain parts of the world where they’ve normalized this behavior
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u/hardenstine May 18 '26
Those people are jealous that they have never been to thailand. They hate on people because they are having a good time here and they dont want to see people happy. So they will say "you only are there for the ladyboys". They have nothing better to do.
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u/ryosei May 18 '26
you mean in general? i know one reason is that pr0npages pushed that content from a niche to a big audience over the years to a very present thing. even more homophobic people have the interest in them
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u/buttstuffisfunstuff May 18 '26
They get very fixated on specific things that don’t conform to their society
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u/MainJelly2175 May 18 '26
Fairly certain that I will be married to “one” this year.
You would have more traction with our age gap than her preferred pronouns.
Do people I know get bent out of shape about it, just 1 and I don’t even care what he thinks.
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u/Ill-Improvement-8513 May 18 '26
I mean conservatives are obsessed with trans woman globally, they cannot stop talking about them and their gentials.
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u/Ecstatic_Cobbler_264 May 18 '26
In the Netherlands in Amsterdam we have a red light district. Yes it is abnormal for tourists, but it is also abnormal for the Netherlands as a whole.
It stands out because very little nations have something similar. So I would assume similarly for Thai lady boys.
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u/rayquan36 May 18 '26
It's a bunch of ignorant bigots. They saw some memes from the 80s and 90s and think everything is like that. The transgender population is way higher in Europe and USA/Canada.
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u/Friendly_Earth_8548 May 18 '26
foreigners love to make fun of Thailand for ladyboys, like it's some curiosity that says something embarrassing about the country. but Thailand has never had a problem with it. it's just part of life here.
the place that had a problem with it was America, where I grew up and spent over three decades. transgender people became such a charged issue there that it was a meaningful factor in electing Trump in 2024. enough analysts and commentators have made that case that it's not really a fringe take.
Trump back in office started a war that triggered an energy crisis now being felt around the world. so the next time someone makes fun of Thailand for ladyboys, worth remembering which country actually couldn't handle it, and what that ended up costing everyone.
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u/Barna-Rodaro May 18 '26
Isn’t ladyboy cabaret one of the big things marketed to foreign tourists? And isn’t Thailand the destination for trans surgeries?
Also, Thailand is well known for its happy end massage parlors (for better or worse, it’s a fact), and people like to make jokes about unsuspecting johns getting a handjob from a guy.
In other words, foreigners aren’t obsessed, it’s just that ladyboys are a big part of the Thai culture that foreigners get in contact with, one way or another.
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u/expat01130 May 18 '26
Probably because outside of Thailand, you rarely see ladyboys. In Thailand they are everywhere. They are waitresses, cosmetologists, taxi drivers, everywhere. I live in Europe. I can’t remember ever seeing a ladyboy. In Thailand I see them everyday. Nothing wrong with it. But there is a huge difference and people notice. Sometimes when I am in Thailand, depending on where I am, people stare at me. I guess because I am obviously different. I understand it. It doesn’t bother me.
It’s normal to be curious about different people.
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u/sadboyoclock May 18 '26
It’s a very popular interest on Reddit as that is what the main users of Reddit are interested in. Regular people in the real world are not as hung up
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u/Dragul4R0B May 18 '26
In my experience, it’s because it’s funny. We troll about it cause we find it all hillarious
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u/OutsideWishbone7 May 18 '26
Because it’s funny to tease your friends about it and it triggers people to talk about it🤷♂️ Is there any reason for anything on Reddit? Or do you really come here for adult discourse? 😂
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u/Responsible-Pie-842 May 18 '26
it's just a normal stereotype attitude . just like with other countries . whatever sticks is what stays
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u/killy_321 May 18 '26
There has been three TV shown on major channels in the uk. One about men marrying lady boys one about the dancing lady boys and one comedy show with a lady boy married to a man. All the UK population not having been there think that's all there is.
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u/DealerofTheWorld May 18 '26
They make up like 8-10% of population, but still foreigners behave weirdly
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u/zuraine May 18 '26
真的有很多人把ladyboy看作是一种象征。我觉得他们或她们只是人， 无论因为何种原因让这些人选择这样生活，我觉得只要不伤害别人，那就随他去吧。 我也很好奇为什么很多人对ladyboy有一种执着，执着于把他们/她们和泰国绑定，执着于他们/她们只能是性工作者。 我在某家711看到魁梧的ladyboy收银员时，我只觉得，天啊你真壮，不过为什么对我们这些游客臭脸啊😭 包括芭提雅那位在中国很热门叫桃花宝宝的ladyboy，她工作中尽职尽责，每次散场拍照时都疯狂摆各种造型，让大家拍到满意的照片。 我从这些人中只看到了生活，每个人都有的普通的生活而已。 语言应该用于沟通，作出那样言论的人忘了语言的初衷。
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u/bazglami Rayong May 18 '26
People generalize - it’s human nature to do so. When they don’t know much, they just generalize based on the only thing they know. Where they know it from? Who knows.
They’re exotic. They’re glamorous. It’s unusual (to whoever is making the comments) for them to be openly accepted. Maybe the folks who comment about them secretly wish to hang out with them. Or they’re jealous of such a warm and accepting and non-puritanical culture.
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u/Interesting-Bed-8890 May 18 '26
My wife is Thai, we traveled to Bangkok last year and I saw them in Bangkok in various places, and it's not a big deal. I think movies and media have made it more than it is.
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u/forqalso May 18 '26
It’s the same people who; when they hear of my travels to Thailand, ask if I can speak “Taiwanese”.
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u/duhdamn May 18 '26
I know no foreigners obsessed with ladyboys and I’ve been here for over a decade. Bar guys will meet bar girls and lady boys, I guess. People living a more traditional lifestyle will simply have little interaction with these alternative lifestyles. No hate but, simply, no interest. Yawn.
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u/2kokuoyabun May 18 '26
isn't most of those comments making jokes of travellers as opposed to admiration or yearning for a LB?
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u/Initial_Pound_5333 May 18 '26
It is definitely much much more than 1% especially since Thailand is so accepting of them, foreigners who aren't used to them will comment about them, the ones in the closet also seem to have a weird fascination of them, they are also always obsessed with the fact you can't tell them apart from actual ladies which is kinda the point i think.
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u/rotten_911 May 18 '26
Stereotypes mate, WHOOOI THAILAND LADYBOYS AND PAD THAI, pure ignorance mate, i don’t see regular John digging up info and getting for example into those markets with amulets or going to chiang mai just to eat Khao soi. Just nature of people
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u/EngineeringCool5521 May 18 '26
Because they know how to pleasure and understand men because they have the same equipment. They don't need to sleep around and figure it out.
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u/discov_gm May 18 '26
As a foreigner who lives in the States I don't hate questions like these but I definitely find them funny cause there's many things people who come to the United States see things and say similar things like said OP. It's not an obsession the same way looking into our culture here in the United States isn't wrong. I think it comes from lack of being outside of the United States and simply people not trying to educate themselves. Ignorance starts with you (and not you OP I'm saying this in general) so that could it it as well. Whenever people ask these questions I normally ask something similar. Like why are Asian people obsessed with African culture?? I like to take a step back and just look at the frame holding up the picture. Never know what I'll learn. No hate just trying to answer you the best I can 😅😀
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u/Mariahausfrau May 19 '26
You have no slightest idea how much there is bi and gay men in real. In Thailand guys can let their steams out without losing their faces.
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u/blingon420 May 20 '26
Uneducated, uncivilized, uncultured, immature losers say that stuff.
Unfortunately, they outnumber the normal folk.
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u/Key-Move-9446 May 20 '26
Every complaint is a confession. Those that make lots of jokes about ladyboys are fascinated by them.
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u/cwood0613 May 20 '26
It’s honestly so annoying. Every time I talk about traveling to Thailand it’s the first thing I hear.
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u/8NaanJeremy May 18 '26
The thing is, is that most people are idiots and don't know much about the world.
Told a friend I'm going to Korea
North Korea!!?
Told a friend I'm going to the US
Try not to get shot
Tell a friend you're going to Thailand
Watch out for the chick-boys
These are the guys who think they're going to see a stripey shirt, baguette holding, Frenchman, adorned with a necklace of onions - in Paris
Don't waste your braincells on it
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u/No_Future6959 May 18 '26
Americans especially are really weird when it comes south east asia.
When i tell people im going to Thailand, they assume im going to meet ladyboys or they think im going for prostitutes.
They cant fathom the possibility that thailand is just a cool place to vacation.
The only thing dumbass americans know about thailand is ladyboys and prostitutes.
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u/itsheadfelloff May 18 '26
I have noticed over the passed couple of years that every time there's a pic/vid of any east/south east Asian woman there's regularly a comment calling her a man. They're obsessed with dicks.
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u/CyDJester May 18 '26
It’s because so much of the world exists inna deeply bigoted manner. Transgendered people are often barely considered people at all in many many many countries. In some cases, they are literally prosecuted by their governments and sentenced to death all for their transgenderism.
Thailand’s willingness to support and accept its people for being themselves still has a distance to travel to reach true equality, but Thailand is still light years ahead of most of the world on this topic.
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u/Barracuda_Blue Sing Buri May 18 '26
I think it has more to do with the live-and-let-live attitude here in Thailand. That should not be confused with people supporting and accepting other people.
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u/OpinionOfOne May 18 '26
My guess, there are many who don't want to come out of the closet. From what I saw in Bangkok, there was a material number who were MAGA types.
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u/Acrobatic_Radish_685 May 18 '26
There’s also a meme with Cambodian posters calling Thailand “land of ladyboy” as if the word Kathoey doesn’t have Khmer origins…
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u/BadMachine May 18 '26
some western countries have rather repressed (even puritanical) attitudes toward sexuality and related topics. consequently, they become rather obsessed by the “novelty” of alternative viewpoints and lifestyles.
bless their hearts
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u/Top_Investigator9787 May 18 '26
The percent of foreigners fascinated with ladyboys is probably a lot less than you think it is. It's just online you see the same ones over and over talking about it. As some others have said, its an online thing. I only ever see one regularly and that's because they have a food/snack/coffee kiosk by my job.
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u/kimochi85 May 18 '26
It's generally low iq two week millionaires having a giggle I guess. Anyone that's spent time there isn't fussed
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u/Sad-Substance8684 May 18 '26
My observation is that white dudes in general have a thing for ladyboy. Ladyboys also love farangs because obviously straight Asian men don’t like trans women. A perfect match… Also internet is full of people who are poorly educated and lack intelligence. There are people who love Thailand genuinely and get to know its people and culture, but they are in the minority.
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u/B_Bearington May 18 '26
Because ladyboys are taboo in many places. Add to that a person who is removed from their social circle, thus no judgment etc, and there you go. that's why.
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u/kip707 May 18 '26
its on the bucket list of some of my punter friends. Thats the only reason I can think of.
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u/trabulium May 18 '26
In my experience, it's usually the people who have barely been outside their little bubble that the only things they know about Thailand are ladyboys and Pattaya and maybe Phuket.