Kathoey

'Kathoey' (Thai: กะเทย) is a Thai term that historically encompassed feminine men, trans women, and intersex people. In contemporary Thai usage, kathoey primarily refers to AMAB people who present or live as women. In popular English, the term 'ladyboy' is also sometimes used, although in Thailand itself it may be considered derogatory.

What does it mean?

Kathoey is not an exact equivalent of 'transgender woman': it is a cultural category with deep roots in Thai Buddhist and social history. The group has a visible presence in Thai media, fashion and entertainment, but its socioeconomic position remains vulnerable — kathoey young people often end up in lower segments of the labour market.

Distinction and overlap

Comparable third-gender roles elsewhere include hijra (South Asia), fa'afafine (Samoa) and muxe (Mexico). Unlike hijra, kathoey has no religious or ceremonial tradition of blessing; the role is social and cultural, not ritual.

Social and practical context

Thailand does not legally recognise a third gender; kathoey remain legally male on official documents. Their visibility in Thai society is high, but formal equality is lacking: for example, a kathoey cannot marry as a woman, although same-sex couples have also been able to marry in Thailand since January 2025. Thailand is a medical leader in transition-related care and feminising surgery such as vaginoplasty; many trans people from abroad travel to Bangkok for procedures. The short- and long-term risks of that surgery are listed on transwijzer.nl.

Critical perspectives

The Western 'transgender' framework does not map directly onto kathoey: the term has its own cultural meaning and traditionally also includes feminine gay men who do not see themselves as women. Relabelling kathoey as 'Thai trans' projects contemporary Western categories onto a local social phenomenon — illuminating in some respects, distorting in others. The same caveat applies to the other roles discussed under gender in other cultures.