The Third Gender and Their Identity in Indian Society

Shashi Shukla; Nandita Chaudhary

doi:10.1007/978-981-10-3581-4

The Third Gender and Their Identity in Indian Society

Shashi Shukla, Nandita Chaudhary

Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

In India, people with a wide range of transgender-related identities, cultures, or experiences coexist—including Hijras, Aravanis, Kothis and Jogtas/Jogappas. These people have been part of the broader culture and were treated with respect in the past. Modernity has changed the situation for them, although on some occasions they are still accorded the same respect. History has proved the important position of Hijras in Indian society, but it is not so in today’s India. Socialization, relationships and expectations, values and perceptions are shaped by whether one is a male or a female. What happens when one is neither a male nor a female but a third sex with features of either sex or both? The chapter presents the perceptions about Hijras and their status in the present Indian society.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Resistance in Everyday Life
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3581-4
Publication status	Published - 2017

Keywords

Hijras
Identity
Sexuality
Society
Traditions

Disciplines

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies

Access to Document

10.1007/978-981-10-3581-4Licence: Unspecified

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-3581-4_4

Cite this

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title = "The Third Gender and Their Identity in Indian Society",

abstract = " In India, people with a wide range of transgender-related identities, cultures, or experiences coexist—including Hijras, Aravanis, Kothis and Jogtas/Jogappas. These people have been part of the broader culture and were treated with respect in the past. Modernity has changed the situation for them, although on some occasions they are still accorded the same respect. History has proved the important position of Hijras in Indian society, but it is not so in today{\textquoteright}s India. Socialization, relationships and expectations, values and perceptions are shaped by whether one is a male or a female. What happens when one is neither a male nor a female but a third sex with features of either sex or both? The chapter presents the perceptions about Hijras and their status in the present Indian society.",

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AB - In India, people with a wide range of transgender-related identities, cultures, or experiences coexist—including Hijras, Aravanis, Kothis and Jogtas/Jogappas. These people have been part of the broader culture and were treated with respect in the past. Modernity has changed the situation for them, although on some occasions they are still accorded the same respect. History has proved the important position of Hijras in Indian society, but it is not so in today’s India. Socialization, relationships and expectations, values and perceptions are shaped by whether one is a male or a female. What happens when one is neither a male nor a female but a third sex with features of either sex or both? The chapter presents the perceptions about Hijras and their status in the present Indian society.

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