I guess I would like to preface this with the notion that I wanted to focus on “Gender X” yet was unable to find sufficient information in regards to this topic. As a result I am touching on the hijra of India and would like to add additional information about their representation of a third gender because it is in a way so foreign to our western binay way of thinking that it intrigued me. There are a bunch of additional examples of an increasing acceptance or at least tolerance of a third gender that I initially wanted to investigate or at least share.
The Hijra occupy a liminal role in Indian society, occupying neither specific caste nor gender roles. The idea of reincarnation is incredibly harmonious with the notion of sex/gender pluralism-for it includes those who incarnate in a variety of sexes/genders at different times. Hijras are known to behave in a range of behavior known to both men and women: wearing female attire and hairstyles, but also using vulgar speech and smoking. Oftentimes they resemble Western drag queens in many of their norms of behavior, exhibiting a pseudo-masculinity and also engaging in performance that satirizes gender and social relations. They perform a ritual role in India society, performing dances, offerings and blessings at life events. They live communally and support themselves via prostitution and begging. The term hijra originates from “hij” which translates into a journey that has begun yet has not ended. This suggests that the journey that they are embarking on will no longer allow them to associate as male, nor will be they ever be classified as female. Hijras completely adopt a culturally and religiously framed feminine way of life. The influence of Hindu religious belief is strong in the perception of this community. Transformations of gender are themes in Hindu myth and ritual. Various deities and humans take on sexually ambiguous roles, indicating the significance of hijra in Indian society. .Hijras perform at celebrations of the birth of children. In one ritual, they examine the genitals of newborns, and claim any baby born intersexed as part of their community. Children with defective or malformed male sex organs may be classified as hijra.
I think that the trans gender or gender variance topic could be interesting.
I also like the shopping while black topic.
There is also the hegemony femininity that might be fun.
Colorism also piques my curiosity.
One other is gender x.
Gender X is another term for the idea of a third gender. The idea of a third gender may sound foreign, in a way it is yet also it is not. A third gender is nothing new in India, where there is the hijra which can be a transgendered individual or it may be what we once considered a hermaphrodite. In India one can also be considered a eunuch. In Thailand, the term ladyboy is used quite frequently to describe a transgendered individual. Another term that I encountered time and again is kathoey which has a similar meaning. I might add that in Thailand the third gender seems to be a generally accepted classification in the Thai culture. Just this year Germany has allowed the gender box on a birth certificate to be left blank to be filled in at a later date by the child upon their determination of sex. Australia is allowing a third box entitled Gender X in which a transgender can be classified on their passport.Bering, Jessie. “The third gender.” Scientific American Mind. 21.2 (2010). 60-63. “In Far-Eastern countries such as Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, fewer than 5 percent of MtF transsexuals may be heterosexuals. The rest are homosexual biological males, usually extremely feminine in their behavior and appearance and exclusively attracted to men. In striking contrast, this ratio of gay to straight is almost perfectly flipped in the West, where 75 percent or more of American and British MtF transsexuals are heterosexual-attracted to women-or bisexual.” This explains culture’s role in the the third gender. I chose to use this article because it came up a lot in my researching the topic. Also it brings up the topic of “autogynephilia” which is the concept of biological males who are attracted to women but who wish to transition to a female identity. They are sexually aroused by the thought of themselves being female. It is also from an American source, a lot of my sources were not American in origin or even western. Bochenek, Michael, and Kyle Knight. "Establishing A Third Gender Category In Nepal: Process And Prognosis." Emory International Law Review 26.1 (2012): 11-41. Academic Search Complete. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. “…the definition of the Nepali third gender as the court established it and puts this definition in the context of non-binary gender definitions according to academic literature and other cases and systems that explicitly or implicitly refer to a third gender category. This article studies the third gender category within legal and political systems in Nepal. There is such a rich history in Nepal of third gender individuals yet this article goes into their rights and legal documentation of a third gender. Being a legal journal, it looks into legal cases from other countries also. Chakraborty, Ajanta. “A census first for the third gender.” Times of India. (2013). “Transgenders are being included in the census for the first time. The officials scanned the census codes …branding them as others.” This article shows the hesitancy of people in India, who are for the first time able to be included on the census. They were referred to as “others” in the census code. They are willing to participate for the right to vote. They are looking for a voice. It’s a good example because it illustrated the increasing rights and acceptability of the third gender. Patel, Amisha R. "India's Hijras: The Case For Transgender Rights." George Washington International Law Review 42.4 (2010): 835-863. Academic Search Complete. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. “The hijra existence is “deeply rooted in Indian culture.” The ancient Hindu text of the Ramayana references a “third gender” neither male nor female, as individuals who Lord Rama blesses.” This article I found important because it referenced the Hijras in India and how their history is deeply rooted in that of India. Many ancient and religious texts reference the Hijira. The article mentions Nepal and its long history with the third gender. Rudacille, Deborah. The Riddle of Gender: Science, Activism, and Transgender Rights. New York: Anchor, 2006. Print. “Gender variance should be considered neither an anomaly nor a pathology, but a simple variation. Variety is nature’s way.” This is an older book, older in relation to the articles that I have included. It seemed to be a good combination of science and feelings that will possibly provide me with compassionate information that is scientifically based. It also has a follow up written two years after the book was initially written in response to the original claims. Savage, Ellena. "Gender More Than Anatomy." Eureka Street 21.14 (2011): 36-37. Academic “This year, Nepal was the first state to include a “third gender” in its national census.” This article I found helpful because it was recently written. It referenced the fact that Nepal has begun including a third gender count within their census. The author thinks that their number should be taken into account in Australia. She goes on about her opinion of the importance of allowing transgender, or third gender individuals to have a voice, and to be counted. Sell, Ingrid M. “Third gender: A qualitative study of the experience of individuals who identify as being neither man nor woman.” The Psychotherapy Patient. 13.1/2 (2004): 131-145. “Power is recognized by many non-Western cultures where the ability to cross between the realms of male and female is seen as signifying a corresponding ability to mediate between the worlds of spirit and mundane.” This might be helpful for again it was a study in the United States, where there is not a lot of historical precedence to go off of. It is also a study that is of people that may be your neighbor and as a result made it more personal to me. The article discusses the polarity of the sexes and shares how the third gender is typically received in the west. Sharma, Sachin. "Transsexual person leads the fight for third gender." Times of India 18 Aug. 2013. General OneFile. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. “India's hijras struggle as a traditionally marginalized social class, subject to gender violence and various other human rights violations. Confined to live on the outskirts of regulated society, the plight of the hijra remains largely invisible.” This article is about a current case in which a third gender person in India is looking for a change in policy in which the state will cover surgical procedures for a sex change operation. Again this is important because it is news. It is current information of the ever changing fight for the rights of the third gender individuals. Sridevan, Prabha. "The third gender's right to dignity." Hindu [English] 31 May 2012. General OneFile. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. “The Pakistan Supreme Court recently ruled that those who do not consider themselves to be either male or female should be allowed to choose an alternative sex in their national identity cards.” This was again a recent story in which third gender individuals in Pakistan were eligible to choose an alternative sex on their national identity card. The article goes into the harsh lives of people who are transgendered and how they see this as a step towards acceptance. White, Hillary. Generation ‘X’: Germany to allow third ‘blank gender’ for birth certificates. (2013) Retrieved from http://www.Lifesitenews.com. “This would seem to operate as a narrow third gender recognition even if it isn’t being called as such.” This article was used because of its timing. Just two days ago a law went into effect that Germany would allow a third option on a birth certificate. This was the option of leaving the sex on the birth certificate blank until a future date. This enables the child to fill it in as they see fit, later in life. Again this just shows the progress that the third sex is making in today’s society.