Expounding gender : male and transgender (male to female) sex worker identities in the global-Thai sex sector | |
| Author | Witchayanee Ocha |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.GD-12-01 |
| Subject(s) | Globalization--Thailand Sex-oriented businesses--Thailand |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Gender and Development Studies, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation ; no. GD-12-01 |
| Abstract | This research combines a sophisticated summary of contemporary theories of gender and sexuality with a significant b ody of new field research. The central argument of this dissertation is that “The Sex industry in Thailand has in fact been a key source of the proliferation of diverse performativities among sex workers.” Drawing on the work of Judith Butler (1990), one of the arguments presented here is that Thai commercial sex workers’ repeated engagement in the no vel forms of sexual behaviour required by foreign (non - Thai) customers leads those sex workers to come to new understandings about their own sexual identity. Data was gathered about currently emerging marginalized sexual minorities in the famous tourism h ot spots: the cities of Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand. The existence of various “performativities” is proposed and investigated and the need for a reconsideration of definitions of various sexual/gendered groups and practices explored with relation to “q ueer” theory. The data clearly suggests that the theory of the fluidity of sexualities is a very real and relevant theory to describe the development of sexuality/gender in the sex trade in the contemporary period in Thailand. |
| Year | 2012 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. GD-12-01 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Doneys, Philippe; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Resurreccion, Bernadette P. ;Sajor, Edsel, E.; |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2012 |