HIJRA / TRANGENDER
Indian Hijra or transgender person, which is known as the Third Gender globally, is considered physically and psychologically ambivalent and because of ambivalence people consider them freaks (hiding their sexual identity). They are physically, verbally, and sexually abused. Hijras have been stigmatized and marginalized to a large extent. Thus, from the ancient India to the present day, Indian society made a distinction between Hijra and predefined gender category. The term Hijra encompasses a wide range of identities, appearances, and behaviors that blur and cross the biological gender lines in India.
Hijras are physiological males who have a feminine gender identity, adopt feminine gender role, and wear women's clothing. They do not conform to conventional notions of male or female gender but combine or move between the two. Their vulnerabilities, frustrations, and insecurities have historically been overlooked by mainstream society. Therefore, they are a marginalized and stigmatized community.On the other hand, marginalized masculinity is explained with specific reference to the configuration of practice generated in a particular situation in a changing structure of relationships. The Hijra claim that mainstream society does not understand their culture, gender, mentality, and sexuality. Dimensions of their social deprivation and harassment to them have never received attention in the development society. There are many myths, legends, rituals, religious roles, and themes in Hinduism which entertain the notion of "sexually ambiguous or dual gender manifestations."
An estimated 5-6 million eunuchs live in India. In modern India, Hijras often live a ghetto-like existence, in their own communities which is called "Gharana." They make a living by dancing and celebrating in births and marriages ceremonies but often to resort to other means to make both ends meet . Yet, the community is beginning to make a mark in the national mainstream as well. In the 2011 census, the Indian State identified Hijras' gender as "other," which only met the approval of some Hijras. A 2014 Supreme Court verdict ruled that Hijras should be recognized under a separate "third gender" category.
The Hijra community in India has existed with a recorded history of more than 4000 years. Hijras has a long recorded history in the Indian subcontinent, from ancient times, as suggested by the Kama Sutra period onward. This history attributes to number of well-known roles for Hijras within the subcontinental cultures. They consist of hermaphrodites and women generally unable to lead normal life, unable for marriage, and producing children. Most of them are close to men, but they prefer to be recognized as female then masculine due to their inclination to lead to life of women.
