Ladyboy Mey __link__ -

In Thailand and parts of Cambodia and Laos, the term Kathoey (pronounced cat-hway) refers to individuals assigned male at birth who present as transfeminine or effeminate. While the West often translates this as "ladyboy," the identity is deeply rooted in Southeast Asian traditions that pre-date modern Western gender binaries.

Traditional Southeast Asian cultures often viewed the soul as feminine or masculine independent of the body, allowing for a more flexible understanding of gender. Life in the Public Eye: Cabarets and Beyond ladyboy mey

Ladyboys are a visible part of Thai society, working across all sectors, though they are most famously recognized in the entertainment industry. In Thailand and parts of Cambodia and Laos,

Many Thais perceive Kathoeys as belonging to a third gender category, neither fully male nor female in a traditional sense. Life in the Public Eye: Cabarets and Beyond

Despite the popularity of the term ladyboy in tourism, most Thai transgender women prefer to refer to themselves as phuying (meaning "woman") or phuying praphet song ("second kind of woman").