A Secondary School in Thailand is offering a Third toilet to it’s students, that of a transexal toilet. Kampang Secondary School situated in Thailands impoverished north-east has responded to the pupil’s requet for a Toilet for it’s Transexual pupils.
This is a result of the Transexual male pupils first trying to use the boys toilets, but were teased, and then used the female toilets, but that made the girls uncomfortable. The resutl, it seems, was to build a third toilet just for them.
The article at the BBC lists the youngest member of this group as being 12. The head teacher of the school estiamates that in any year 10 to 20% of boys consider themselfs transexuals.
It is an interesting form of acceptance, and a definate break in societies traditional gender-roles. The Internet tells me that most Gay/Lesbians know from fairly early on that they don’t think like the rest of their peers, and I presume that it’s the same for transexuals.
There a small bit of me that feels a little uneasy about this. The toilets themselfs are a definate badge of creating a distinctive In-Group for the Transexuals. This, of course, makes them feel more comfortable with who they are, and I suppose that if the other groups are used to being in contact with this group it might break down negative stereotypes, however there is always the danger of forming a group that is set appart, and made as a target.
In this case, however, it was welcomed by the members of the group. I guess like all “phases” in a persons life, some will drifft into the life-style, and drifft out if/when they realise it’s not for them, and others will feel relieved that they are not alone. I think in the main that this is a good thing, a definate way forward.
The article doesn’t mention about those girls who want to be boys. Traditionally the “tom-boy” was just a rough-and-tumble girl, but in this day and age, it can mean one who knows she should not be trapped in a man’s body. Presumably these toilets are also for them.
The article is also an interesting commentry on Thai society. The toilets were passed without even the slightest hint of scandle.
Could you imagine such a thing in this country?
It’s just occured to me what about it that seems a bit off to me. It’s the fact that because of the taunts, these boys have been forced to make themselfs different. That is, they have been forced to become a group appart. They shouldn’t have too. People should just accept other people, and just get on with life. Of course, this is my view, and I’m not a Transexual, so perhaps it feels different.
Anyone want to share their comments?
~Black Xanthus
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