The Taiwanese Lesbian Scene: Tomboy & Pao
Posted by ulla on Sunday, March 29, 2009
Under: Scene
I got talking to Andrea Toerien - a friend of mine in Taiwan, who also happens to be a lesbian. She told me about T's and P's; Tomboys and Pao (wives) and showed me photographs and immediately it was apparent that the Taiwanese scene is rather different to the Western butch/femme dynamic - for one thing, they're more scene, theme and appearance conscious than most of us can imagine.
So tomboys don't go out with tomboys and pao don't go out with pao? Usually not. There are a few couples that will have both, but one will always be a little more feminine. The femmes also will dance together to tease the T's , but T's are mostly playful on the dancefloor..not sexual with each other.
Pao … wife … does that mean that their partnerships are monogamous? Usually yes. But , just like straight society, T's have more freedom. Like, they can dance with other girls, tease..but don't let them catch their wives doing the same thing.
They seem to be incredibly fashion conscious – are they label conscious too? Insanely so. Most people in Taiwan are. They follow trends.
How do you fit into the scene – as a foreigner and as someone who I'd have said was androgynous looking? Oh, I fit in well. But they don't understand why I'm not up for one night stands etc. They watch L word and think foreigners are 'spicy' to them that means we're open and wild! In the beginning, when my hair was shaved I got loads of attention from the femmes...with their long plastic nails...yikes. But now that I have long hair people tend to leave me alone. I don't think I'm femme enough for the T's here...although many of them come up to me and want my MSN address...(they cant understand that I don't give it to strangers).
Does the male/female roleplay extend into the sexual sphere? Yes..many femme girls have long nails. And that's all I'm going to say.
Those long, painted nails … do tomboys get any action? Oh..hahahahha. I heard no...some do of course, but they mostly give while the femmes receive. Same as stone butches back home.
How visible are those roles outside of gay bars etc? Very...when they go shopping the T is always the one carrying all the bags while the femme is trying on clothes.
Are tomboys mistaken for boys? I don't think so...
In the photos you showed me, everyone looks really young – where are the older ones? Haha, there are tea bars and coffee shops. There isn't a club for older women. The older women are also snobby and refuse to go into the younger bars. They think that's where the children go.
Have you dated anyone in this scene? Gimme details! I only dated a girl when I got here..but I was her first so she didn't have any hang-ups about roles. I did feel like she enjoyed showing me off to her friends and gave more attention to me when we were outside than alone.
Besides the bar you showed me, what else is out there on the Taiwanese lesbian scene for them? We have this group called 'Lez's meeting' and they always have pool parties, movie screenings etc. And we have a gay area in Hsimenting, a cool shopping area...a friend of mine has a little bar named 'Hitch' she used to do speed dating nights all over town. Then there's another club named Esha. I used to go there a lot but the bargirls at Taboo are much friendlier. They sell bra's to bind your boobs....most Ts wear these vests... (that's Lawrence, a friend of mine.) Many times the girls 'strip' and take shirts off..but then they're wearing tank tops underneath!
How are they perceived/treated by the rest of the Taiwanese lesbian scene? How are who perceived? They are the whole lesbian scene unfortunately.
Do you think they draw any inspiration from the West? Oh yes. Taiwan is obsessed with America and the West. This is why they get nose implants, eyelids implanted etc....it's sad.
So tomboys don't go out with tomboys and pao don't go out with pao? Usually not. There are a few couples that will have both, but one will always be a little more feminine. The femmes also will dance together to tease the T's , but T's are mostly playful on the dancefloor..not sexual with each other.
Pao … wife … does that mean that their partnerships are monogamous? Usually yes. But , just like straight society, T's have more freedom. Like, they can dance with other girls, tease..but don't let them catch their wives doing the same thing.
They seem to be incredibly fashion conscious – are they label conscious too? Insanely so. Most people in Taiwan are. They follow trends.
How do you fit into the scene – as a foreigner and as someone who I'd have said was androgynous looking? Oh, I fit in well. But they don't understand why I'm not up for one night stands etc. They watch L word and think foreigners are 'spicy' to them that means we're open and wild! In the beginning, when my hair was shaved I got loads of attention from the femmes...with their long plastic nails...yikes. But now that I have long hair people tend to leave me alone. I don't think I'm femme enough for the T's here...although many of them come up to me and want my MSN address...(they cant understand that I don't give it to strangers).
Does the male/female roleplay extend into the sexual sphere? Yes..many femme girls have long nails. And that's all I'm going to say.
Those long, painted nails … do tomboys get any action? Oh..hahahahha. I heard no...some do of course, but they mostly give while the femmes receive. Same as stone butches back home.
How visible are those roles outside of gay bars etc? Very...when they go shopping the T is always the one carrying all the bags while the femme is trying on clothes.
Are tomboys mistaken for boys? I don't think so...
In the photos you showed me, everyone looks really young – where are the older ones? Haha, there are tea bars and coffee shops. There isn't a club for older women. The older women are also snobby and refuse to go into the younger bars. They think that's where the children go.
Have you dated anyone in this scene? Gimme details! I only dated a girl when I got here..but I was her first so she didn't have any hang-ups about roles. I did feel like she enjoyed showing me off to her friends and gave more attention to me when we were outside than alone.
Besides the bar you showed me, what else is out there on the Taiwanese lesbian scene for them? We have this group called 'Lez's meeting' and they always have pool parties, movie screenings etc. And we have a gay area in Hsimenting, a cool shopping area...a friend of mine has a little bar named 'Hitch' she used to do speed dating nights all over town. Then there's another club named Esha. I used to go there a lot but the bargirls at Taboo are much friendlier. They sell bra's to bind your boobs....most Ts wear these vests... (that's Lawrence, a friend of mine.) Many times the girls 'strip' and take shirts off..but then they're wearing tank tops underneath!
How are they perceived/treated by the rest of the Taiwanese lesbian scene? How are who perceived? They are the whole lesbian scene unfortunately.
Do you think they draw any inspiration from the West? Oh yes. Taiwan is obsessed with America and the West. This is why they get nose implants, eyelids implanted etc....it's sad.
In : Scene
Tags: taiwan tomboy pao wife butch femme scene clubbing "andrea toerien" taboo
