Asia Insight — Season 1, Episode 17: Born This Way in Thailand

Episode synopsis

Thailand is increasingly accepting into society transgender women or "ladyboys" as they are commonly known around the country. One school has created separate washrooms for transgender students because nearly 20% of its male population is considered "third gender." In northeastern Thailand a transgender entrepreneur was recently elected as a local council member. In a bold, historic move, a Thai airline company became the first to hire transgender flight attendants. In this episode of Asia Insight we follow several transgender women as they remain true to their identities and strive to affirm their role in Thai society.

About Asia Insight

An in-depth portrait of Asia today, covering its dynamism as a center of growth as well as its traditions tossed around by the advance of globalization.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Migrants Gain Upper Hand
• E2Indonesia's First National Car
• E3Diversifying Shanghai
• E4Vietnam's Court Music Revival
• E5Writers Fight Publishing Ban in HK
• E6Mongolia's Forgotten Slum Dwellers
• E7The "80's Writers" in China
• E8Hydropower for Indonesian Villagers
• E9Energy-Hungry Nepal
• E10China's Job-Hunting Inn
• E11The Year of the Dragon Baby Boom
• E12The Dancing Prisoners