India is known for being the 2nd most
populated country in the world. With a total of 1,262,670,000 men and
women, there is a section of that population that is a little
different – the 2 million members of their transgender community.
In a bid to discover the transgender world and enter this gated community of women who used to be men, called the “Hijra”, Asha Leo of Refinery29 traveled to the Coimbatore, India to meet, live and discover the ways of the Hijra.
The Hijra are described as a diverse
range of people who consider themselves to be outside the categorization
of male or female – but are largely described as those born male who
transition through a combination of “gender affirmation” surgeries.
Although they were just officially
recognized by the Supreme Court in India earlier this year, the idea of
the “Third Gender” is not new to them. According to ancient books, the
Hijra have held cultural, political and even spiritual importance
throughout history. They bless new born children, pray over newlyweds
and give their blessings to anything new that is happening in their
community. However, even with these benefits of having the Hijra
community present, they are still a source of shame to their families
and communities. Most of them have resorted to prostitution to make ends
meet, are abused and molested on the streets and are often met with
prejudice.
Leo meets with a member of the Hijra who
takes her into their gated community, revealing their distinct cultural
values, including the reason why the Sari is a seen as a badge of
honour and a symbol of self.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLJEQBmLpTgd_-L45yq0GSqbKV3LySGFjO&v=mgw7M-JABMg&feature=player_embedded
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