Today, the term covers a broad spectrum, including those who have undergone gender confirmation surgery, those on hormone therapy, and effeminate men who do not intend to transition.
Many transgender women in Thailand prefer the term phuying (meaning "woman") or sao praphet song ("second-type woman"), while kathoey can sometimes be used pejoratively. "Ladyboy": From Tourism to Reclamation lady boy tranny
Kathoey identity has existed for centuries and is rooted in Buddhist teachings that recognize three genders: male, female, and kathoey. Today, the term covers a broad spectrum, including