While short hair – in different degrees and styles – is a common factor among the subjects, their approaches to what it means to be a tom otherwise vary widely. “Tom” is derived from the English word and refers specifically to homosexual females who present as masculine, tending to wear short hair, clothes designed for men, and little or no makeup. However, as Tomboy Bangkok shows, these descriptive elements are by no means strict rules, and they are often broken. The concept of the tom as a unique form of gender expression in Thailand dates to the 1970s, more recent than that of kathoey and thus less understood among older generations. “With the ‘Tomboy Bangkok’ project, I enjoy the process of interacting intimately with people living a life true to who they are.

Source: The Nation Bangkok May 31, 2019 05:26 UTC