a paper on hidden genders
Hidden Genders is a documentary that discussed about the topic on transsexuals and how they are viewed in their society. There were two transsexuals featured, one from India and one from Thailand. Transsexuals are people born with physical characteristics of one sex but have a psychological feel or belief that they belong to the opposite sex. Different cultures view transsexuals differently though there are some similarities.
Transsexuals in India are called hijra which is a Hindustani word that means “leaving one’s tribe.” Most Hijras leave their families to live together in a house where there is a “mother-figure” who takes care of them. These hijra homes are often found in societies with very low status since there are few employment opportunities that are open to hijras. Because of this, hijras get their money from performing in ceremonies called toli and begging (dheengna). They are often found on the streets demanding money from people and if denied, the hijras curse the person to scare them into giving money. For hijras to earn more money they take on this persona that allows them to be able to curse or bless a person. This makes them feared and sometimes respected by the society. They perform in wedding ceremonies and at the birth of babies. Their performance usually involves music, dancing, and singing. Hijras are often uninvited in these ceremonies but they still attend since the host would most likely still pay them their fee. If they are not paid or are unsatisfied with the payment, the hijras would start cursing the people and would just stop when given their wanted amount. They will then start blessing the people with goodwill and fortune for the fee they receive. Invited hijras receive higher fees than uninvited ones. Hijras are believed to be able to do all these blessing and cursing because they do not engage in sexual acts.Â
Violence against hijras is very common and is often very brutal. These occur in public places like police stations, prisons, and even in their homes. This is why most hijras leave home and live together. They are discriminated in the society and are often denied medical rights.
Hijras celebrate an eighteen-day festival in which they devote it to the deity Koothandavar. During the festival, they reenact the wedding of Krishna and Aravan which then leads to Aravan’s sacrifice. The festival ends with the hijras mourning the death of Aravan through dances and bangle breaking. Hijras from all over the country travel to attend the festival.
A hijra who is a village political leader was interviewed. The people voted for the hijra because they wanted to mock the Indian government by putting a transsexual into power. In the end the people’s plan backfired because the hijra proved that being a hijra is not a disability. In fact the hijra devoted time and effort in helping the community.
In Thailand, transsexuals are called katoey and they receive greater acceptance in society than the hijras. The katoeys often work as entertainers and some in shops, salons, and factories. Thai believes that katoeys deserve pity since they are a result of transgressions in the past life. Even though katoeys have greater acceptance in Thailand there are still some who faces social mistreatment. Fathers often get disgraced if a son becomes a katoey. A katoey also undergoes a process of coming out and can face discrimination in the process. Just like in India there is still discrimination in employment. Also, katoeys are not allowed to change their legal sex.
Nong Tum, a katoey, is a famous Thai boxer. She was already taking hormone pills and cross dressing while boxing. The documentary showed her returning to her hometown as a girl to meet her parents and relatives after a very long time. It was an emotional experience for Tum since she doesn’t know how her parents, especially her father, would react. In the end she was greeted with open and accepting arms. This proves to show that blood is thicker than water. Families would still accept you for who you are.
Another katoey who was an entertainer as well as a private school teacher was interviewed in the documentary. She received discrimination from her student’s parents. They don’t want her teaching their children because she might influence them into becoming a katoey. Since she loved teaching she told her students to look at her inner core and not judge her by the outside. She had her sex changed only after having financial stability because according to her, only by having a job will she be able to make herself fit to be a woman.
The documentary proved to be worth the watch. It taught me that people should not judge others based on appearances. Some will prove themselves worthy of being respected and some will not. Also, generalizing could hurt others. One transsexual committing a crime does not mean that all transsexuals are guilty of committing the same crime.
