TRANSFORMATIONS OF SEXUALITY AND GENDER IN THE THAI PERSPECTIVE: POLITICS, MEDIA, AND CITIZENSHIP

The realm of sexuality and gender is a complicated yet fascinating terrain in Thai society. It is the former because this realm has been and is currently regulated by instituted means through legislative measures and cultural norms. The diversity seen in Thai society is a source of fascination, whether it be in touristic areas, including Phuket or the Silom area in Bangkok; the entertainment industry, where Thailand is renowned for its Boys’ Love and Girls’ Love television series; or even medically, for Thailand is one of the top destinations to receive gender affirming surgeries in the world. Approaching these issues in Thai society can never be limited to a discussion of how gendered and sexual matters are governed, nor can it be encompassed within a celebratory milieu ii regarding sexual and gender diversity alone. As something that is presided over by institutions and institutional actors, any attempts to manage sexuality and gender in Thai society can never be complete because of the intrinsic diversity that has characterized Thailand since historical times. The ultimate goals of this book are, first, to understand and explore how sex and gender issues are undergoing transformations within Thai society and, second, to question the extent to which these issues are a political matter