The Third Sex

Charlin Nukul

The Third Sex Beyond a Gender Binary in Thai Culture and Films

PETER LANG New York - Berlin - Bruxelles - Chennai - Lausanne - Oxford

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Nukul, Charlin, author.

Title: The third sex : beyond a gender binary in Thai culture and films / Charlin Nukul.

Description: New York : Peter Lang, 2025. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2024058438 (print) | LCCN 2024058439 (ebook) | ISBN 9781636671239 (hardback) | ISBN 9781636671246 (ebook) | ISBN 9781636671253 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Gender identity in motion pictures. | Motion pictures–Thailand–History. | Queer theory. | LCGFT: Film criticism.

Classification: LCC PN1995.9.G364 N85 2025 (print) | LCC PN1995.9.G364 (ebook) | DDC 791.43/652109593–dc23/eng/20241214

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2024058438

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2024058439

DOI 10.3726/b22586

Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.

The German National Library lists this publication in the German National Bibliography; detailed bibliographic data is available on the Internet at <http://dnb.d-nb.de>.

Cover design by Peter Lang Group AG

ISBN 9781636671239 (hardback)

ISBN 9781636671246 (ebook)

ISBN 9781636671253 (epub)

DOI 10.3726/b22586

© 2025 Peter Lang Group AG, Lausanne

Published by Peter Lang Publishing Inc., New York, USA

info@peterlang.com—www.peterl​ang.com

All rights reserved.

All parts of this publication are protected by copyright.

Any utilization outside the strict limits of the copyright law, without the permission of the publisher, is forbidden and liable to prosecution.

This applies in particular to reproductions, translations, microfilming, and storage and processing in electronic retrieval systems.

This publication has been peer reviewed.

About the author

Dr. Charlin Nukul is a film lecturer and researcher at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Thailand. She holds a PhD in Media and Communication from the University of Leicester, and her research explores film studies, queer studies, and cultural studies, particularly LGBTQ+ representation.

About the book

This book was the winner of the 2022 Peter Lang Emerging Scholars Competition in Media & Communication.

Thailand, the “land of smiles,” is often seen as a “gay paradise.” But how does Thai culture understand sexuality? This book moves beyond Western frameworks to explore non-normative genders like kathoey, gay, tom, and dee. Through historical context and film analysis, it challenges assumptions, embraces Thai nuances, and offers a deeper understanding of the “third sex” concept. Examining historical texts and contemporary films, the book sheds light on the experiences of individuals with non-normative genders—their challenges, triumphs, and contributions to Thai society. This book offers critical insights into the complexities of gender and sexuality in Thai cultures, challenging readers to broaden their perspectives. Essential reading for anyone interested in gender studies, sexuality, queer studies, film, and Thai culture.

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