Hunen is one of the main characters in my (WIP) story Empire's Wake, which takes place in the City-State of Ranai after the death of the last Namitan Emperor. Hunen works under Cevein Þete as Master of Staff, a role he's rapidly earned for his stellar interpersonal skills.
More on Ranaite transsexualism, Hunen trivia, and text from the image under the cut.
Hunen
Age: 33 Gender: Male Ethnicity: Ranaite
Hunen is a senior Archivist in Ranai's Port district. Hunen is one of many Ranaites to embrace a gender different from the one dictated by their birth, a path rooted in solid cultural tradition among Ranaites and other tahen peoples, but viewed as superfluous and backwards in the context of Ranai's growing gender equality and flexible gender roles.
Hunen grew up in the High Vale District of Ranai and, after his graduation, progressed through his career rapidly through his willingness to move to districts with open postings. He worked several years in his home district before requesting a transfer to "anywhere" and ending up at Ranai's Port Archives. Hunen is very secretive as to what, exactly, motivated his transfer out of his home district.
Like all senior Archivists, Hunen's feathers are dyed and his gums are tattooed black. Outside work, Hunen often dresses in civilian Ranaite clothes, but remains obviously marked as an Archivist by his feathers. Hunen favors bold colors and patterns.
Ranaite transsexualism
Note: Ranaite culture is rather binary in terms of genders. There are cultural frameworks for genderlessness or third gender identity, but these are not touched upon here.
Ranaites, like other Tahen peoples to which they are related, do not sex their children at birth. Antioles have internal genitalia: before secondary sex characteristics begin to appear at puberty (and children begin experiencing genital eversion as a result of arousal), specific processes are required to asses the sex of a child. These processes are not employed by the Tahen, and their children and their children possess the gender of "child". Upon puberty, around the age of 10, children are initiated into their sex in a ritualized and involved process, which is followed by gendered socialization until and through adulthood.
Gender is strongly associated with sex, but is understood primarily through the lens of the roles attached to it: historically, Tahen societies have been strongly gendered, with strict gender roles and expectations. As an example, Archivists are traditionally always men -Librarians, their counterpart, always women. The combination of strong gender categories and late gendering of children has produced a solid cultural framework for children who refuse the roles associated with their sex. There is a long cultural tradition among Tahen of children choosing to be initiated in the other gender.
This choice is popularly understood to stem from a desire to engage in the other gender's roles: if a female child dreams of being an inkmaker like its grandfather, then it is sensical that this child will choose to be a man so that it can take on this profession. If a male child is determined to become involved in politics, then this child has no choice but to be a woman so that it may one day become Councillor. Transgender antioles in this framework are understood as deeply devoted to their lifepath.
Transsexualism in contemporary Ranai
Ranai has had a strong movement for gender freedom and equality, starting over a century ago. This movement has been largely successful: Ranaite gender roles are infinitely more flexible than those of continental Tahen peoples. Gender bias and stereotypes are still very much alive, but professions are no longer restricted to one gender or the other: it is possible to be a man in politics (like Aliti) or a woman Archivist (like Cevein).
In this framework of gender equality and freedom, the cultural institutions of transsexualism are often perceived by Ranaites as a holdover from a time gone by. Because gender is still so strongly associated with its traditional roles in the Ranaite mind, the desire to change gender outside of access to other gender roles is difficult to understand for Ranaites. Transsexualism seems superfluous in a world where anyone can be anything they want to be. Hunen's transgender identity is perceived by many as overly conservative, a holdover of a time when professions where restricted by gender: why be a man when you could've been a woman Archivist anyways?
Hunen does not face hostility for being transgender, but finds himself stereotyped as a very traditional person and is faced with confusion when trying to explain his gender as detached from his role as an Archivist.
More Trivia
All senior Archivists have tattooed gums, a painful ritual process in which junior Archivists are ordained as full fledged members of the institution. Popular gossip holds that *all* of an Archivist's "pink flesh" is tattooed, including their genitals. Cevein refuses to engage in such gossip, but Hunen loves to stoke the mystery.
Hunen and Aliti met as young adults, when Aliti was a runner and Hunen a student at the Great Library. They lost contact when Aliti's injury put an end to his running career.
Hunen, as a child, wanted to be a Librarian. He usually avoids mentionning this, as it makes people more confused as to his choice to be a man.
Hunen's willingness to move districts for better postings is seen as unusual: Ranaites are often very attached to their home district and prefer to keep close to their family.
Though Hunen is very secretive about the causes of his latest move, the distance between High Vale District and the Port District as well as his silence about his family implies that some sort of familial conflict motivated the move.
Hunen is an incorrigible gossiper.