Image Lifestyle of the Transgender People

Abstract

This research was aimed to study the image and lifestyle of transgender people. Researcher used the qualitative research method via the documentary approach which included analyzing the historical memo, legal documents, academic documents, magazines, and in-depth interview as well as the participatory observation on the representatives of transgender people who are acknowledgeable both in academic and other professional circles in Thailand. Using the content analysis and storytelling writing methods to reflect the evolution of transgender people in Thailand in term of factors and effect to the existence of transgender people, attitude, profession, social perspective, stigmatize, and segregation from the society. The results indicated that the perspective of general population toward transgender people, using the social changing theory to analyze, in different aspects are as follow:

On the individual aspect, researcher found the non-existing state for transgender people in the society which resulted from the evolution and various social phenomena from the past until the present. The society as a whole sees the existence of transgender people as a people who look after his/her personality, always be conscious of one’s appearance, cheerful minded when engaging with other people in order to receive more approval from society.

On the social factor aspect, transgender people considered to be a versatile smart person, good at solving an immediate problem, good at surviving. Therefore they can easily create the learning culture from working with other people and their real life experience. In the past, the existence of transgender people were not well accepted but now a day they are widely recognize only a small group of people who only accepted by act but not by mind. Most transgender view their potential and ability as a tool to create happiness and value of their lives as well as a guarantee sign of acceptance to the society so that they can live their lives happily and loved by other people in the society.

On the attitude aspect showed that in the past, the perspective of society toward transgender people were not very good because some of the transgender did the wrong thing therefore it made society look at transgender people as a whole in a bad way.  Transgender people in a provincial area were not widely open so it became a negative attitude toward the society but transgender people in the city had elevated from that. There were evolutions in their profession so they became more recognize. Their professions were dancer, makeup artist as well as MC which made a positive attitude on social media and multi-media and created a better image to society.