Tomboy Bangok

Oversized shirts. Breast binders. Tattoos. Ear piercings. Short hairstyle. What makes a boy a boy? What makes a girl a girl? It’s never an easy task for most Thai teenagers to develop their self-esteem and fully express themselves, especially when they’re identified as butch lesbians, or tom in Thai (as a short version of tomboy). The term is commonly used to describe a female-born person who exhibits masculine characteristics and/or chooses to dress like a man/boy. While many may regard Thailand as an LGBT-friendly country because of its vast normalization of transwomen and ladyboys (locally called kathoey), but the Thai society is more than what meets the eye. Conservative culture and values still remain. Like effeminate boys, some teen tomboys struggle with coming out to their families and friends. Some face criticism from peers such as “you’re just confused” and “you’ll change your mind.” “Somebody asked me, ‘Why are you a tomboy? You’re prettier if you’re a girl,” said Kewalin Wadwaree, who identifies herself as a tomboy. “My family cannot accept it. They keep saying things so I could change my mind.” “I first realized that I’m a tomboy when I was a fourth-grader. People told me I would change my mind when I grow up. Now I’m studying in grade 10 and I haven’t changed my mind,” said Taddao Panpana.