Title: Male, Female, And Muxes: Places Where A Third Gender Is Accepted
Headings: Male, Female, And Muxes: Places Where A Third Gender Is Accepted
Male, Female, And Muxes: Places Where A Third Gender Is Accepted
For these cultures, the idea of nonconforming gender is ancient.
Muxes in Juchitán de Zaragoza
Two-spirit in Native North American Navajo culture
Fa’Afafines in Samoa
Hijras in South Asia
Sekrata in Madagascar
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Content: That means gender identity is often hugely shaped by culture. Being a woman in Samoa is quite different from being a woman in Western society,” says a woman in the video above. Gender identity in Samoan culture is as simple as being accepted by society if you say and feel you are male or female. This is a social norm the rest of the world could learn from. Check out this video ​ on Sexual Identity in Samoan culture from National Geographic. Hijras in South Asia
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The Hijra community of Mumbai [Getty Images]
The Image Bank Unreleased Soltan Frédéric
Sadly, the Hijras are less accepted by society in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Hijras identify as women born in male bodies. Hijras have their own ancient language — Hijras Farsi and served monarchs in South Asian regions for centuries. Today, they are primarily outsiders in their communities, excluded from many economic opportunities. In spite of marginalization from the rest of the world, whom they refer to as “dunya daar” the Hijras preserve their own language and culture where gender knows no boundaries.