the third sex

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There is an interesting story currently on the BBC website, reporting that Australian researchers have identified a significant link between a gene involved in testosterone action and male-to-female transsexualism.

DNA analysis from 112 male-to-female transsexual volunteers showed they were more likely to have a longer version of the androgen receptor gene.

The genetic difference may cause weaker testosterone signals, the researchers say.

One of the team, Professor Vincent Harley, is quoted as saying that transsexualism is still widely viewed as simply a lifestyle choice, and consequently carries a social stigma, but that the research findings support a biological basis of how gender identity develops.

One study has shown that certain brain structures in male-to-female transsexual people are more “female like”.

It is encouraging to see serious research being carried out on this subject, about which little is known. However, as I have said here before, as far as Thailand is concerned I am convinced that relatively few ladyboys are genuine cases of transsexualism. If they were, there would be something genetically askew for a disproportionately large number of people from one nation.

There are economic reasons for a young Thai to decide to become a ladyboy, and I have gone into this before. The biological reasons are however largely, of course, hidden. But I see a huge number of ladyboys in all their naked glory, and one thing I have noticed time and time again is that a fairly large number of them are not well endowed in the downstairs region.

So often I have seen panties come down to reveal a small or under-developed penis, or one that simply doesn’t work properly at all. Its owner sometimes will plead the effects of hormones, but in many cases this is just an excuse. The effects of taking female hormones as far as a strong, healthy penis are concerned tend to be long-term. Besides, it is usually possible to see, in a young person, that the penis is essentially a well-built one, even after a few years of popping hormones.

It does seem to me that in Thailand there are a considerable number of males whose sexual equipment does not develop fully, and in the curiously fatalistic way that the Thais have, the owner decides that he was born not to be male, but to be for this life at least, a ladyboy.

This is all tied up with Buddhism and karma, and the belief that a transgression in a previous life has to be paid for down the line in the next life. Thais firmly believe this, which is one reason why ladyboys are generally accepted in society, or at least that they don’t face the hostility that transsexuals generally encounter in other cultures.

Now this would be something worth looking into by the next team of researchers who decide to dip into the perplexing world of the third sex. But even so, I would be at a loss to explain why there are so many under-developed dicks out there. I have no way of comparing this with a similar experience of the Western countries. So if anyone has any thoughts on this, I certainly would be interested to hear them.