Spotlight on Students: Gender Comparisons

The following post features the work of a student in my Anth 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology course.  In this assignment they were tasked with comparing the gender norms of the Hijra with those that exist in the United States.  

Hijra of India (Image Source: The Guardian)

By: Stephen Haw

 

Sex and gender are important for the study of anthropology. Sex is static and non-changing while gender and the definitions of such vary among different cultures. Sex is attributable to biological occurrences when the zygote inherits the sex genes from two parents. Gender is inter-changeable and the definition of such varies among cultures. Gender is described as a “cultural construction of whether one is female, male, or something else” (Gezon and Kottak). Gender norms of the Hijra of India and American culture vary, and the differences of each culture and their gender values are a unique contrast.  

India is just below the Himalaya Mountains and is east of Pakistan and south of China. India is considered a union of twenty-eight states and seven territories. The society is structured under a rigid caste system that separates each individual into an ascribed status, which is attributed to which part of society the person was born into. The nation’s economy has modern industries as well as agriculture. Hindi is the official language of the country as well as fourteen other languages that make up the country. The majority of the people in the country practice Hinduism while the remaining practice Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism.

(Funk & Wagnall’s New World Encyclopedia)

The Hijras of India is associated with transgenderism. They are the third party gender in India and are generally accepted or feared for their social and traditional roles. In a social role, the Hijra may work as a prostitute or will perform at a wedding or a birth ceremony which is believed to bring a blessing to the baby or a newly married couple. (Nanda 2008) In a religious context, the traditional view of the Hijra “are devotees of Bahuchara Mata, one of the many versions of the Mother Goddess worshiped throughout India.” ([C1] Nanda 2008) It is believed since the man or woman cannot reproduce they can take on a greater role in society by being reborn into a Hijra who does not desire sexual intercourse and which fulfills a religious significance in society. The Hijra are able to bless or curse an individual to fulfill their religious role. They are believed to have divine powers from the goddess because of the ritualistic emasculation ceremony in which the penis and testicles are removed (Nanda 2008).   

 The United States is located in North America, which is south of Canada and north of Mexico. The government of the United States is considered a Constitutional Republic divided between state, local, and federal governments. The federal government is divided between Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government. This system is supposed to offer checks and balances to the government. The economy of the United States is capitalistic with large mineral and agricultural economic sectors. Along with this, the country has a huge manufacturing industry. America is predominately white, while the other ethnicities include African American, Latino, Mexican American, Asian, and American Indian. The religion of America is mainly Christian, while there are practicing Muslims, Jewish, Hindus, and Buddhists. The primary language spoken is English while it is not the recognized language of the country.   (Funk & Wagnall’s New World Encyclopedia)

 Traditionally American culture has embraced a strict set of gender qualities. This can be seen by the aggressive or “Macho” man associated with action films. Also, the man has been seen to be the main, if not the only, breadwinner of the household. The women in American society are culturally seen to be passive or mostly sweet. The traditional role of the woman of American society has been to solely take care of children or contribute to the household. The nuclear family unit in the United States has been considered to be a father, mother and children. In an article by the Center for American Progress, it is stated, “While women made up only about one-third of the workforce in 1969, women today make up almost half of all workers in the United States”. Women, because of economic factors, are reshaping the workforce. The male is still seen as the protector in American society seen in the predominantly male military of the United States while women are seen as caregivers.

 Transgendered[C2]  Americans are considered “abnormal” or taboo. While there has been significant advancement for transgendered individuals in America, it is still considered culturally unacceptable. It is described that “there is nothing new or abnormal about diverse gender roles and identities, as the anthropological record attests. Gender variance is a human phenomenon that has taken many forms across societies and cultures” (Getzon and Kottak). Gender inequalities still exist in the United States while transgendered individuals can often be discriminated against.  

The Americans and the Hijra are polar opposites [C3] when it comes to gender. The Hijra are transgendered with a religious and societal role to bless others during wedding and birth ceremonies. They are accepted in Indian society for their religious significance. In comparison, American gender roles are differentiated between the masculine or aggressive male and the passive or feminine female. It could be argued that in comparing the groups, the American transgendered individuals are similar with the Hijra because of a steadily growing acceptance of transgendered individuals in America. American society has a long way to go before fully accepting transgendered individuals like the Indians regarding the Hijra.

American society has had traditionally set gender roles with the man being the head of the household and the woman contributing to taking care of the children. But that has been shifting due to different political movements. Women now take on a greater role in society and the transgendered are being seen as more socially acceptable. Men are still seen as aggressive or masculine and women passive. But the role of women in American society has come a long way. The transgendered are still labeled as taboo in American culture. While in India the Hijra are seen with respect and admiration due to their religious significance in bestowing blessing and luck to a marriage or a newborn. One is culturally accepted while another is culturally taboo.    

            During this assignment I have learned that there is a unique culture in India where the transgendered individual is favored. I have also learned that gender values among cultures can be very relative. Gender roles among transgendered individuals in the different cultures are vastly different. This paper shows me how ethnocentric my values can be with gender. I have a more traditional view of transgendered individuals. Though I definitely do not want to discriminate against a transgendered individual, I still view this as very different to my own beliefs. Culture varies among societies and gender is so fixed in America that it is hard for Americans to take a more accepting response toward the transgendered individual. The Hijra are fascinating examples of transgendered individuals being incorporated into a religious role in society. They represent a group of people that are integrated into society whereas in America the transgendered individual has to hide from society in order to fit in.     
 

Works Cited

"India." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2014): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 15 June 2015.
Gezon, Lisa, and Conrad Kottak. Culture. Truckee Meadows Community College ed. New York: McGraw Hill Education, 2014. Print.
Nanda, Serena. Sex-Gender Diversity: A Cross Cultural Perspective (2008). Web. 15 June 2015.
"United States Of America." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2014): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 15 June 2015.
Chu, Anna and Posner, Charles. The State of Women in America (2013. Web. 15 June 2015.