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: 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. Sekrata in Madagascar
In Madagascar, for the Sakalava people recognized a third gender called Sekrata. Boys in Sakalava communities who exhibit traditionally feminine behavior or personalities are raised by parents as girls from a young age. Instead of labeling these boys as gay, they are seen as having a male body and identifying as a female. Sexual preference is not a factor for the Sakalava and raising a child in this third gender is natural and accepted in the community’s social fabric. Some people have more trouble understanding the idea of a “third gender.”