In India and Pakistan, the Hijra community is a legally recognized "third gender." While they face modern discrimination, they have a historical role in society that predates Western terminology.

Transgender women, particularly women of color, face disproportionate rates of violence. Advocacy groups argue that dehumanizing language (including "shemale") fuels the prejudice that leads to this violence.

In this context, the term is used to market content featuring transgender women. This has led to significant "fetishization," where individuals are viewed primarily through a lens of sexual fantasy rather than as whole human beings.

Critics argue that the term’s dominance in adult media reduces the visibility of transgender women in mainstream society to a sexualized caricature, contributing to real-world discrimination and violence. 3. Global Perspectives and Cultural Variations

In Thailand, Kathoey (often referred to as "Ladyboys" in English) are a visible part of the culture. While the Western term is sometimes applied to them in tourist contexts, their social standing and identity are unique to Thai history.

The use of derogatory language is often linked to broader systemic issues facing transgender people worldwide.