From the link above, "... hijras cannot be understood using Western constructs of 'homosexuality' and 'transsexualism'. Rather, the hijras are an institutionalized 'third sex' with certain ritual functions. As such, they can be compared with the xanith in Oman and with the Native American two-spirit. By studying alternative gender systems cross-culturally, we can help to break the hegemony of the Western 'two-sex model' and advance our understanding of the variety of human gender roles and sexual identities."
...
Another perspective on this can be found in the Sambia tribe of Papua New Guinea ... sex and gender represent very different things to these people, but nonetheless share some interesting characteristics with western culture. Google them if you are at all interested (wikipedia doesn't have much).
http://intersections.anu.edu.au/issue6/schmidt.html
ReplyDeleteThanks Kevin. This is helpful in grounding the conversation.
ReplyDeletehttp://chaymagazine.org/gender/46-the-hijras-of-india
ReplyDeleteFrom the link above, "... hijras cannot be understood using Western constructs of 'homosexuality' and 'transsexualism'. Rather, the hijras are an institutionalized 'third sex' with certain ritual functions. As such, they can be compared with the xanith in Oman and with the Native American two-spirit. By studying alternative gender systems cross-culturally, we can help to break the hegemony of the Western 'two-sex model' and advance our understanding of the variety of human gender roles and sexual identities."
...
Another perspective on this can be found in the Sambia tribe of Papua New Guinea ... sex and gender represent very different things to these people, but nonetheless share some interesting characteristics with western culture. Google them if you are at all interested (wikipedia doesn't have much).
this is so interesting! thanks kevin and karl!
ReplyDelete