{"id":2098,"date":"2018-07-03T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T13:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/?p=2098"},"modified":"2018-07-02T09:53:38","modified_gmt":"2018-07-02T14:53:38","slug":"gender-identity-and-pakistans-third-gender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/2018\/07\/03\/gender-identity-and-pakistans-third-gender\/","title":{"rendered":"Gender, Identity, and Pakistan’s “Third Gender”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A hijra at the birth of a baby. While the mother rested, she acted as a host. Photo by Whitney Lauren, Flickr CC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The recent hire of a <\/span>transgender news anchor<\/span><\/a> in Pakistan garnered strong national and international support. Transgender individuals, commonly referred to as <\/span>hijra <\/span><\/i>or <\/span>khawaja sara<\/span><\/i> in South Asia, have long held a place in societies in the region, for Hindus and Muslims alike. Officially defined as a \u201cthird gender,\u201d <\/span>hijra<\/span><\/em> —\u00a0<\/span><\/i>a non-conforming, trans, or intersex gender identity — in Pakistan now have their own category in the census, the right to vote, and the right to inherit property<\/span>.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0Despite these advances, recent sociological findings point out that the <\/span>hijra<\/span><\/em> community still faces problems of legal recognition, social stigma, marginalization, discrimination, and violence. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hijra often face familial rejection, lack of opportunities, and human rights violations in Pakistan. Most hijra<\/em> are born biologically male, but many run away from home due to physical, emotional, or verbal abuse by family members who shame hijra<\/em> for not performing traditional masculinity. After forming their own communities, hijra<\/em> may be coerced into dancing, sex work, and begging to make a living. Hijra are also routinely discriminated against and excluded from schools, health services, and government jobs. When police sexually and physically abuse hijra<\/em>, the legal system often fails to protect or support them. Even in old age, many hijra<\/em> are cast out of their own communities because they can no longer support themselves.<\/h5>\n