Monks teach maleness to Thai 'ladyboys'

Published July 16, 2011
A Buddhist novice listening during a lesson.
A Buddhist novice listening during a lesson.
A young boy watching as Buddhist monks from the nearby Wat Kreung Tai temple collect morning alms.
A young boy watching as Buddhist monks from the nearby Wat Kreung Tai temple collect morning alms.
Having breakfast made of donations they collected earlier.
Having breakfast made of donations they collected earlier.
A young Buddhist novice monk and  aspiring ladyboy Pipop Thanajindawong looking outside from his room.
A young Buddhist novice monk and aspiring ladyboy Pipop Thanajindawong looking outside from his room.
A Buddhist novice monk getting a twice-monthly head shave in a backyard of the Wat Kreung Tai temple.
A Buddhist novice monk getting a twice-monthly head shave in a backyard of the Wat Kreung Tai temple.
A Buddhist novice monk and aspiring ladyboy Pipop Thanajindawong getting a twice-monthly head shave in a backyard of the Wat Kreung Tai temple.
A Buddhist novice monk and aspiring ladyboy Pipop Thanajindawong getting a twice-monthly head shave in a backyard of the Wat Kreung Tai temple.
Playing the guitar as others listen in their shared room at the Wat Kreung Tai temple.
Playing the guitar as others listen in their shared room at the Wat Kreung Tai temple.
Buddhist novice monks sitting on the steps of the Wat Kreung Tai temple during a small ceremony.
Buddhist novice monks sitting on the steps of the Wat Kreung Tai temple during a small ceremony.
An aspiring ladyboy Pipop Thanajindawong's hands as he sits on a bench at the Wat Kreung Tai temple.
An aspiring ladyboy Pipop Thanajindawong's hands as he sits on a bench at the Wat Kreung Tai temple.

In Thailand's northern border town of Chiang Khong the Kreung Tai temple runs a course to teach masculinity to boys who are “katoeys”, the Thai term for transsexuals or ladyboys. They have certain rules and regulations that novice monks cannot use powder, make-up, or perfume and act ladylike.

However, they have had limited success in their project and three of the six ladyboys who have graduated from the school are said to have embraced their masculinity, but the remaining three went on to have sex changes. - Photos by AFP

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