This notion of categorizing wasn't so apparent until I started looking back at my trip to Sino-Asia a couple of years ago. My mom and I decided we wanted to go visit Malaysia Singapore and Thailand for our summer vacation. While Malaysia and Singapore were presented to the tourists as places of progressing urbanization with hints of traditional atmosphere, Thailand was promoted as "the exotic." The exotic didn't even mean areas with tall trees and interesting fruits (even though their longans are the best); the exotic meant their women or men, well actually trans-gender. In Thailand, they have a huge tourism industry based on the notion of showcasing their trans-gender population. Our tour guide actually gave us the run down on how to gain a successful trans-gender career: first you have to have feminine features. Institutions have you undergo specifics tests to make sure your mindset is fully dedicated to this change, like they would have you stand naked while beautiful women walk around you. After passing all these tests, they begin rolling out the stylists, makeup artists, and voice coaches. At this point, you're still just a drag queen, where you look and perhaps even sound like a woman but is not yet fully one. What does it take to be a trans-gender then? Well actually a trans-gender in Thailand is a high priced individual, only specific drag queens make enough money in cabarets and performances to undergo the surgery. Once the surgery is done, their economic value sky-rockets because then she can perform in the more prestigious performances, which vary from dancing shows on yachts to full peep shows.
The interesting thing about learning this is that, the way trans-genders are promoted to other countries as the "thing" to see in Thailand. Like the Hottentot Venus, trans-gender performers are basically seen as a creature with specific attributes that cause fascination to onlookers. I remember asking one of the men what he thought after having paid over 500 bacht to see a high class peep show and he responded that it was more exciting thinking about it than actually being there. Another guy on our tour, who had his wife accompany him to the shows, said that when everything can be seen, there were less sexual excitement. When we complained about why female celebrities don't seem to like to where pants these days, it reminded me of the husband's comment, it's what you don't see that excites you. Something that isn't apparent becomes "exotic."; something that confuses the category because the "other"
It was also very interesting to see that many of the drag-queens and trans-genders that my mom and I met during out stay in Thailand, all fashioned their looks according to western standards of beauty. The people of Thailand are Asian, and they have Asian features but many of the trans-genders undergo surgery to make their eyes wide, nose ridge high and pale complexion. Despite being labeled as the "other," they are constantly trying to conform rather than to stand out but it's because they stand out that's why they make so much money and the Thailand tourism industry is so prosperous.
On a side note, as a female onlooker, I was fascinated not by the wonders of modern day science which created these synthetic Venuses, I inquired things that are still unchangeable about their identity. For example, trans-genders can get the full physical surgery to look, sound and behave like a woman but the doctors are not allowed to change the features of their hands and feet. Hands can't be plastically manipulated because their to many vital blood vessels in them, and same for the feet. They wouldn't be able to walk. Also the repercutions of undergoing such a dramatic change to your body has side effects that only she can experience. Their careers usually approximate to mid-thirties before their looks begin to fade and either you pay more money to get them enhanced or you're degraded in the trans-gender industry. The story behind the other seems more interesting than the actual "other."
No comments:
Post a Comment