WHY TRNSGENDERS DISERVE OUR ATTENTION

The people are called Hijra are not actually born as transgender. Many studies about them proves this fact.
Which means that not only our genie shaping our interests and attitudes but also context and surroundings
plays an important role. That is why the people who born with same genetic structure behaves differently.
Human life is very complex, they may have to face some situation dilemmas which cannot be classified
as Yes or No and White and Black. Unfortunately human beings are still unable to go beyond the
dichotomy of white and black. Similarly there is a tendency to underestimate the people who cant be
distinguished as male or female. Actually our tendency was the original source of their genders. That is
why their issues becomes very serious and violation of human rights also, so this is a discussion about
how we can address the issues of transgender.

Objectives

To describe the importance of SDH and Transgender.

To Understanding social exclusion of third genders.
To Drawing the attention of government towards the issues of third genders.

The Hijras are marginalized and side lined from mainstream society that is why they are living in their
own isolated circle. They are also worshipping a special Goddess Bahuchara Mata. This is related to a
myth which says the Bahuchara and his brothers who born in a Charan group were attacked by robbers
and plunders, but the blood of Charan was very sacred so his blood shedding was considered very serious
sin, but this plunder who committed this sin became castrated. But he changed his appearance and
pretended as women then began to serve goddess in order to compensate to his problem. That is why our
Hijras still worship Bahuchara goddess.
The discussions and debates about third gender is very often linked to homosexuality. LGBT movements
are creating such a social atmosphere. There are three kinds of homosexuality. A- Immoral sexuality. It is
obvious that all immoral sexualities are considered as crime by our society whether it homo or
heterosexuality. Immoral and anti-social sexuality cannot be justified on the basis of emotional disorder.
Because it may lead to various social and criminal issues from small to large. However to link third
genders with the people who have immoral sexual taste is not desirable because the later one is actual
disease which may be mental or physical which can be cured through proper medical support. It is clear
that there are scientific remedies for hormone disorder and mental issues so it is easy to tackle through
careful medication.
This is not only limited to homosexuality, because there are many male and female who suffer from hyper
sexuality disorder, so it is not good to let them live as they are by justifying their special behavior. The
actual sexo maniac is very often related to heterosexuality, so the disease concept cannot be ignored even
in the case of heterosexuality. Here also the solution is medication. But in the case of third genders it is

not right. It means that they cannot be considered as victims of immoral sexuality or sexual crime. Theres
not a curable disease also. If it is not criminal mentality or disease the apt and appropriate term to depict
them is natural. Actually this people are transgender who were categorized as male of female by birth, but
unfortunately gradually they understood that their inner aspirations, attitudes and thirsts are not been
satisfied in this current group, so they leave their primary category and accept an appropriate another one.
So we cant ignore and underestimate their problems and issues.
However, some basic facts related to it should be understood. Firstly there is no enough experimental
evidences to prove transgender as totally genetically condition. The evidences to prove the three
categories of Heterosexual, Homosexual and Bisexual is quiet natural is again problematic. The concept
of other gender is at least in majority cases are not ascribed but achieved, sometimes very rarely genetic
disorder also leads to this problem. But modern movements related to sexuality like LGBT and Queer are
supporting liberal sexuality. Actually the mixing and mingling of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
itself is wrong and unscientific, because all these are different categories. The inclusion of bisexual
people in sexual minority is highly problematic. Actually the integration and combination of LGBT is
challenging the public consensus of the society which sees immoral sexual desires as unnatural and
undesirable.

GENDER
Sex has always been a debatable topic, and gender is as well, although the term gender is not well
unstated in our society. The terms sex and gender sometimes used interchangeably which shapes the
health issues at hand. Sex biological, it is what we are labeled at birth, based on sexual look. People are
generally considered as female, male, or intersex. Gender is social concept, what we become though our
being, behavior development, culture, and environment. Gender is who a person becomes through their
socialization process and development.
A majority of transgender are those who were victims of sexual harassment in their childhood.
Psychologically that bad experience may strongly influence in shaping their mindset and mentality in
later years. Similarly there are many other factors also which shapes ones attitude like surroundings and
parents behavior etc. Such situation may lead to the homosexual desires. That is why Karl Henrich
Ulrich who is considered as a pioneer of modern homosexual movements mentions in his biography about
the parents wrong attitude and sexual harassment by horse rider in his rly days.
Actually Indian transgender are mainly comes under the achieved category which have proven by many
studies. Which means that not only genie, but surroundings has tremendous influence on shaping our
behaviors, attitudes and desires, while describing about sexual growth Freud a well-known psychologist
mentions about transformation from one state to another as well as fixation, both these may also affect
ones specific mental situation
Dean Hamer is famous for his attempts to find out genetic base of homosexuality. In 1993 he published a
book named as a Linkage Between DNA makers on the X Chromosome and Male Sexual Orientation.
In this study he argued that in the X chromosomes of homosexual people has a special genetic maker
called X928. This is the celebrated, so called gay genie. But science journal which published this article
itself published many other articles which are strongly oppose and question this theory.

If we analyze homosexuality or homosexual love we will get one another fact also. Which is one
definitely plays the role of male even in this type of equal homosexuality. It means that homosexuality
failed to destroy traditional concepts of sexuality. That is why even in the homosexual situation one
member plays a dominant role as in the case of heterosexuality. It is the just reflection of our male and
female dichotomy. But here both are acting as equal but actually one member represents male characters
while other female characters.

IDENTITY
Even facing this type of complex situation and analyzing the reasons and causes which leads to this
miserable situation, we cannot ignore the identity crisis of the people who are being compelled to live in
an uncomfortable body structure. To understand the efforts and attempts of Indian transsexuals to deny
and suppress their male identity is enough to get an idea of their deep crisis. For example these people are
sacrificing their sexual organ to submit in front of Bahuchara math as a gift to goddess. This bad
costumes are happening in the background of ritual ceremony. The possibility to lose ones life itself is
very high during this adventurous ceremony. It indicates to the pathetic conditions they are suffering in
their life that is why they are getting ready to commit any risky thing.
In Iran there was an emergence of transgenes society. But during the time of Sha their activities were
considered as unconstitutional or unlawful. Mariam Quathun Mulkara is a famous figure in postrevolutionary Iran. He was born as a man, but his inner desires was absolutely that of a women, so he met
Hidayatulla Khomeini, who is a supreme leader of Iran and conducted many debates. Eventually
Khomeini issued a Fatwa (Law) in which he allowed such people to undergo through Surgical
Reassignment Surgery (SRS) and change their identity both physically and documentarily along with that
they also got all kinds of other benefits like marriage etc. On the basis of their new identity. Very often
government itself bears the big expenditure of this surgery also. But homosexuality is being considered as
a great sin and crime in Iran, which is not been tolerated at all.

BISEXUALS
Similarly there is a third section which can be doubtlessly considered as a sexual minority. The term
Bisexual is more stable to denote this group rather than transsexuals. It means that these are the people
who are bearing the identities of both male and female in single same body. This people also known as
intersex person or Hermaphrodites. Their issue is totally genetically. That is why simple solutions are not
adequate to address their problems. Very often they are being forced to change their condition through
surgery which is nothing but violation of their rights as their own organization (International Intersex
Forum) argued. Here their inner taste should be carefully and scientifically analyzed and identified.
Otherwise any surgery will lead them in to unbearable stress and pressure, so this is very complicated as
well as challenging issue.
There is a film titled as XXY directed by an Argentinian film maker Lucia Puenzo as the title suggests it
is all about intersexes. Biologically X, Y chromosomes decides the male or female identity. In some
people there may be one extra X along with already existing XY chromosome. In this case male sexual
organs will be existed due to the influence of this extra, so here feminine male people being born through
this process.

In the case of Hermaphrodites, social exclusion and marginalization are leading them to the criminal
mentality. Our society is not matured enough to take an accommodative approach toward them. They are
not getting proper treatment in our public spaces, their job opportunities are very less, very often they are
getting discriminated from our mainstream all these reasons should be addressed to reform the social life
of these groups.
In a nutshell our attitude and behavior should be more adaptive and inclusive. Discriminatory approach
will lead chaos because in this case victims will take the criminal approach which will harmfully affect
our entire society, so all misunderstandings, misinterpretations and rumors about these special people
should be controlled and all things related to this issue should be handled on the basis of criminal
mentality, disease and nature.

Social Determinants of Transgender

Exclusion from Social and

Cultural
Participation
Exclusion from family and society
Lack of protection from violence
Restricted access to education,
health and public spaces.

Social Exclusion of
Hijra/Transgender

Exclusion from Politics and

Participation
Restricted access to
Collectivization
Restricted participation in
decision making process

Exclusion from Economy

Exclusion from
Employment and
Livelihood opportunities

Irrespective of our improvements and developments our mindset is still rigid and narrow. That is why we
are still closing our contact doors in front of many helpless people especially transgender. Unfortunately
our mainstream society is not aware about trans genders love, emotion, health, education, employment,
human rights and their financial issues. Instead of kindly addressing their issues our mainstream society is
underestimating their presence by depicting them as criminals and sex workers. Actually our ignorance is
the main reason behind our misunderstanding, so only a psychological change can ensure the better life of
this marginalized community. Horrific and pathetic childhood experiences of this people compels them to
leave their home, land and community. It is very obvious that they cannot adjust in a situation where their
entity and identity is being denied or neglected. That is why they are leaving their home to find out like
minded, or similar people, which ultimately leads to the Red Street or sex industry. Educationally this
community is very poor. Their educational status is even below the national average. The main reason
behind this miserable educational situation is the discriminatory approach of our educational authority. So
they are not getting proper chances and opportunities to get educated. In many of application forms there
is no even the special column of third gender. Even if such column is there this information is widely used
in order to understand this section to discriminate and side line them. Very often admitted students also
not able to properly continue their education among others, due to the accusations and allegations. So
sooner or later they are quitting their institution to keep their self-respect and dignity.
In order to address and solve third genders issues our education system should be changed both in policy
level as well as practical level. Our school students should get very neutral and balanced, clear
understanding of third gender, so our textbooks as well as the mind set of our teachers have to be
reformed and changed. Affirmative actions like reservation and scholarships also have to be introduced
and established to take this oppressed community to the mainstream.
This people also suffering serious health related issues. It is obvious that an unhealthy society cant keep a
dignity life, so this special category people are leading an unhealthy and undignified life. Many doctors
and hospitals are not even ready to diagnose and prescribe treatment to this community. Very often
existing social norms and social pressure encourages doctors to boycott the third genders. Because they
are scared of social attitude and public viewpoint on humane approach towards third genders. However
these doctors are violating medical ethics. Above all many doctors dont even know how to deal with the
issues of this special people, even if some doctors know, the higher expenditure of S.R.S (Sex
Reassignment Surgery) distracts the people from it. In Europe and many foreign countries government is
spending all amounts of this type of surgery. If we can introduce such useful policies in India third
genders problems can be solved and settled to a great extent.

When we talk about their employment situation. Who can survive without proper and stable income
source, definitely it is impossible. So for this third gender who cannot reach in to any job opportunities in
both private and public sector their proportion is very less. In this situation compels them to sell even
their body for sake of food and shelter. This situation very often ends up in dangerous health issues and
severe diseases like Aids. It is the time to spread our skill training programs and employment schemes to
this section of community also. Because there are many abled and well intellectuals in this community
who are being neglected.
Indian constitution ensures fundamental rights for everyone. State and Center both are entitled to protect
this right. But in the case of third genders this rights also being violated. The transgender persons
(Protection of Right) Bills aims at ensuring that transgender persons enjoys a life of dignity and equality
as an Indian citizen and guarantees a basic human right that had been denied to them for so long right to
identify as a member of our community and as equal. The bills also instructs state mechanism to include
all possible provisions to ensure that no transgender person faces discrimination in India because of their
gender identity. The union cabinet approved the Transgender Persons (Protection of Right) Bill 2016 for
introduction in parliament and the bill is expected to bring social, educational and economic
empowerment to the transgender community. To a community that has been ostracized and discriminated
against for so long, this Bill could mean a chance to live a life of dignity and equity.
Supreme Court once clearly mentioned that no person should be treated differently and everyone should
be treated equally. Even this article 14 is not fully applied in our country. The well-educated and
developed state Kerala which unveil interesting gender policy. But people neglected the pathetic life
conditions of transgender. These people are not getting even rent houses, their identity even after surgery
is being questioned all these type of experiences are reflecting our negative and narrow minded approach
towards this marginalized community. Fortunately Kerala government has declared pension for
transgender after their sixties. But the fundamental question to be asked is how they will survive till
sixty? This is the question of socially excluded third genders who are struggling for their honorable
survival and existence.

References

Science of Desire: The Gay Gene and the Biology of Behavior By Dean Hamer, Published in 1993.

XXY Film- 2007 Argentine film written and directed by Luc a Puenzo.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health Disparities, and President Obamas
Commitment for Change in Health Care. Author(s): Janis McWayne, Jennifer Green, Ben Miller,
Matthew Porter, Clay Poston, Gilberto Sanchez, Kimberly Turner and Jeremy Rivers, Published
by: Jean Ait Belkhir, Race, Gender & Class Journal.