By Dominic Whiting<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (Reuters): As a boy, Parinya Kiatbussaba dreamed of
\nbecoming a famous kickboxer, and went on to fight regular bouts
\nin Bangkok's big stadiums until the authorities imposed a ban --
\nwith a rule to exclude women from the ring.<\/p>\n
Parinya is what Thais call a katoey -- a term that loosely
\ncovers camp men, transvestites and transsexuals.<\/p>\n
She is also a good kickboxer, who regularly drew big crowds
\nuntil a sex change two years ago stopped her fighting men in
\nThailand's main boxing halls.<\/p>\n
But becoming a woman, rather than putting an end to her
\ncareer, brought Parinya new, lucrative opportunities abroad.<\/p>\n
At 20, Parinya is a star in Japan, where the rules are more
\nflexible. She has also fought in the United States.<\/p>\n
\"In Japan, like here, people recognize me in the street and
\nask for my autograph,\" she told Reuters after a sparring session.<\/p>\n
\"Thousands of people come to watch the fights and they're also
\ntelevised,\" Parinya said. \"It's better money than in Thailand, so
\nit's worth it -- even if it hurts.\"<\/p>\n
Katoeys are so much a part of Thai life that some young boxers
\nat Parinya's training camp do not think twice about getting in
\nthe ring with her.<\/p>\n
But Parinya, her hair in a long ponytail and wearing mascara,
\nlipstick, boxing vest and shorts, gestured at the teenage boys
\nhitting punch bags and said some feared being embarrassed.<\/p>\n
\"When I was young, other boxers teased me a bit but when they
\nsaw I was a good boxer they respected me,\" she said. \"Now they're
\nscared of getting beaten by a woman.\"<\/p>\n
Parinya took up boxing after being taunted for being too
\neffeminate when a 12-year-old boy.<\/p>\n
\"I wanted to box because people used to tease me for being a
\nkatoey and I wanted to get back at them,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"I was like a normal Thai boy -- very quiet and shy -- but my
\ndad trained me and taught me to be strong.\"<\/p>\n
Moving to Bangkok changed her life.<\/p>\n
\"Really, she was quite a good boxer and the public liked her
\nbecause she was colorful,\" said Kittiphong Kuiyapong, a columnist
\nat Muay Siam (Thai Boxing) magazine.<\/p>\n
\"After five or six fights in Bangkok she got a lot of money,
\nand had silicone breast implants and then the operation.\"<\/p>\n
Then her problems began, Kittiphong said.<\/p>\n
\"Aside from the rules against women fighting, it would have
\nbeen dangerous for her to fight with silicone breasts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"There was also the problem, even before her operation, that
\nshe refused to take her clothes off for the weigh-in.\"<\/p>\n
Box and make-up<\/p>\n
Thai katoeys are famously almost indistinguishable from women,
\nand Parinya is no exception.<\/p>\n
\"After the operation some boxers came to chat me up. But you
\ncan't trust men. I'm always a bit suspicious,\" Parinya said.<\/p>\n
She said her pre-bout ritual included putting on make-up as
\nwell as the usual psyching-up.<\/p>\n
\"It's normal for women. Even as a boxer I still want to be
\nbeautiful.\"<\/p>\n
But Kittiphong said Thai audiences would probably not see
\nParinya's talent again.<\/p>\n
\"She's got a problem now because women don't want to fight her
\n-- she's too strong -- and since the operation she's become too
\nweak to fight men,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But I guess in Japan the level's not so good.\"<\/p>\n
Parinya said her job options would be limited.<\/p>\n
Although katoeys are largely accepted in Thai society -- and
\nhave traditionally played a major role in the entertainment
\nindustry -- they are still not taken seriously.<\/p>\n
\"I'd say that women are at a disadvantage in Thai society, and
\nkatoeys are even further down the scale,\" Parinya said.<\/p>\n
\"It's difficult for us to become civil servants and most
\ncompanies won't take us on. You don't get policemen or nurses who
\nare katoeys,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Parinya said she wanted to pass on her skills to a new
\ngeneration of boxers.<\/p>\n
\"I want to teach Thai boxing to kids, and get them playing
\nsport so they don't get into drugs,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/by-dominic-whiting-1447899208",
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