This is a very interesting article, including a link to the full 79 page report about transgender women working in the sex industry in Shanghai and Beijing by a group called Asia Catalyst, which I found while poking about on the Guardian website. It appears that the Chinese generally are not very accepting of transgender people so treatment to transition and so on is not easily found, plus the establishment while not making it illegal is not very helpful either.
So if you think life is tough in Europe, the US or Australia/NZ, be glad you weren't born in China or as I showed in a recent blog, Brazil.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/16/transgender-sex...
Comments
Especially for m->f
Culturally, Chinese don't respect women much to begin with. My mother could not understand why I would even considering becoming a girl. She had a rotten life growing up female and it was beyond her world view.
It sucks to be a woman in China, period.
The long road to equality
Recent improvements in the treatment of those born transgender have to thank many people going back to the times of Wilberforce. When the Chinese population protects its members from slavery, xenophobia and chauvinism its TG population might get a little respect
Rhona McCloud
Comparisons
I am a transsexual woman. That is a given. I have had a huge number of problems, as well as a number of suicide attempts, none of which should surprise anyone here. In a very few days I will be 57 years old, which means I am a survivor, but a survivor of what?
In the end I am in a country where, despite the Hate Mail attitudes, my employers, my friends and my colleagues recognise my situation as a valid one. I am complimented on my bravery, even when I point out that bravery only exists when one has a choice about how to act. I look at the religious insanity in places like Iran, the USA, Ireland and so on, and I am forced to reconsider my position.
I am involved in two national campaigning and support groups. Last night I discovered I have been elected to the executive committee of one of them. My employer gives me time off to carry out my duties. My socialised health service dealt with and continues to deal with my hormones, surgery, whatever. I have legal protection against discrimination that is priceless. I got wolf-whistled on Saturday as I rode past some builders.
I then look at these two links Ang has put up and I feel absolutely worthless. My life has been so, so easy compared to this.
Clarification
In response to others, 'worthless' may be the wrong word. What I meant is in the body of the comment: my life, compared to those abroad, has been easy.