While specific large-scale studies on Asian transgender women's smoking habits are limited, stock imagery and niche cultural depictions sometimes feature Thai transgender women (often referred to as kathoey ) in various social settings, including smoking. Within LGBTQ+ subcultures in Asia, smoking can sometimes be a social lubricant in nightlife and community spaces where individuals feel more comfortable expressing themselves away from mainstream societal judgment.
Studies in populations like Hong Kong and Taiwan suggest women may use smoking as a coping strategy for stress and negative emotions. asain tgirls smoking
While female smoking rates are historically low in China (around 2.4%), they are rising in countries like Korea and Japan as cultural norms shift. Transgender Context (T-Girls) While female smoking rates are historically low in
In many East Asian countries like South Korea, Japan, and China, female smoking is often perceived negatively . This leads to a "social desirability bias" where self-reported smoking rates for women are often lower than actual rates. asain tgirls smoking