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WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 hours agoThis is a genuine question: I would never use the word shemale because it strikes me as a slur, but I would use the word ladyboy to specifically describe the gender-bending culture of Thai bar workers because some of them do not consider themselves trans, but pursue that path for the career and lifestyle options. Is it still a slur when referring to that phenomenon in Thai culture, or is there a better word to use?
fern@lemmy.autism.place 12 hours ago
If they openly support the use of the word, maybe while in said Thai bars, but not anywhere else. I’m personally curious if they don’t consider themselves “trans” or if it’s with the assumption that it means “transwomen.” There can also be from a vein of transmedicalism where they wouldn’t consider themselves “trans” because they aren’t fully transitioning into full biological expectations set by society.
WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 hours ago
That definitely covers some of the workers, but there are people who pursue it as a career rather than a gender identity. There are many documentaries, YouTube videos, and streamer VOD’s about it where you can hear it in their own words.
The word is ubiquitous to describe that culture in Thailand—they literally call them “ladyboy bars”. Calling it a trans bar would be inaccurate in my opinion, because it is not a bar for trans clientele, it is specifically a bar that hires ladyboys as attractive staff, much in the same way a Hooters only employs big breasted women.