Hijras of India

[helenr]

On the recent National Geographic program I described in another post, there was a segment on the Hijras of India. This unique population was happy that India set up a third gender category --'other'--in addition to male and female. The show portrayed them in action.
Apparently they are almost entirely castrated, though it wasn't discussed on the NG Discovery segment--Google search enlightened me. Guess it doesn't take a year with a shrink, lots of MD support letters, to have an orchi over there!
I saw some interesting photos under India's Third gender photo gallery by maciej (www.pbase.com) is what I wrote down. They basically are beggers and harass others to get money to go away. They like to show up at weddings and perform licentous dances to imply the fruits of fertility-not theirs, of couirse. If they don't get paid, they show their private parts -or what remains of them. Interesting if a bit upsetting.

[sherri52]

I can't see how anyone can make a living as a beggar. I know it is done but how can anyone with a concious do it and to have it reflected as a third (other) gender.

[helenr]

I have never traveled to India, but I infer their class system is very different and perhaps begging is almost legitimate as a form of commerce. not flattering for the transgendered I agree.

[WalT]

IIRC before the British colonized India, Hijras had a much better position in society and revered for their blessings (and feared for their curses). They worship a special Hijra deity.

They go through a special surgery that's a little more than castration. Can't remember the exact details, but they have surgery to have genitals neither male or female (again, they're effectively a third gender in India).

[vjaducd]

I have never traveled to India, but I infer their class system is very different and perhaps begging is almost legitimate as a form of commerce. not flattering for the transgendered I agree.

Your remark is totally far from truth. It is very strange while yoi have never travelled to India. This community has a huge amount of money & gold/silver ornemants which you can't imagine so first come to India,live together with them,observe their livingbeing & then comment.
vjaducd from India:thumbsdn::brolleyes::sad::eek::Angry3::thumb sdn:

[Melissa A.]

Your remark is totally far from truth. It is very strange while yoi have never travelled to India. This community has a huge amount of money & gold/silver ornemants which you can't imagine so first come to India,live together with them,observe their livingbeing & then comment.
vjaducd from India:thumbsdn::brolleyes::sad::eek::Angry3::thumb sdn:

Well....Why don't YOU comment? You live there, you know about this, so don't tease us; enlighten us with more than one sentence about the subject. Most of us won't ever get to India. Help us out, here.

Hugs,

Melissa:)

[helenr]

I meant no condemnation of this allied group of individuals. seems that they hardly put a good face on individuals who are transgendered, however, with their puzzling behavior--exposing their genitalia to those who won't pay their demands,etc. that isn't very charming.

[WalT]

I meant no condemnation of this allied group of individuals. seems that they hardly put a good face on individuals who are transgendered, however, with their puzzling behavior--exposing their genitalia to those who won't pay their demands,etc. that isn't very charming.Hijras aren't transgendered in the Western sense though. You're looking at them through your own lenses.

More westernized Indian transgendered individuals and Hijras are a mile apart.

Now, if we were talking about some other third gender in other cultures such as the Native American two-spirits you'd have a point, as they are far closer to transgender than Hijra. Hijra are third gender in every sense of the phrase.