Indian Hijra
March 16th, 2007 by Babe
The Hijras– “Neither man nor woman”
indian eunuch or hijra
Hijras are men who dress and act like women. Hijras have belonged to Indian culture for generations. Within South Asian society they maintain a third-gender role that has become institutionalized through tradition.
Hijras are often defined as eunuchs (castrated males) and acknowledged both in Hindu and Muslim cultures. In Indian society to be eunuch means that you are fit for nothing. However, in Hindu mythology, impotence can be transformed into the power of generativity-the practice of asceticism. (Nanda, Serena 1994: The Hijras of India)
Posted in T's Around The World