Neither Man nor Woman

The Hijras of India

Serena Nanda

Cheryl Aupperle

Karen Ayouch

Christie Brower

Teresa Gage

Ethnography of India’s 3rd gender

• Indian culture accommodates gender variations

• Neither man nor woman

How did the hijra tradition begin?

• Eunichs blessed by Ram

• Power flows from Bahuchara Mata

What is a hijra?

• 3rd gender– Born hermaphrodite– Impotent male– Emasculated male– Barren female

• Spiritual calling

What is their society like?

• Naik

• Council

• Guru

• Chela

• Recruits

What spiritual functions do they do?

• Bless babies

• Bless weddings

• Beg

What do they do for a living?

• Prostituting

• Begging

• Performing rituals

What is their life like?

• Stages of life follow traditional Indian culture– Student– Householder– Forrest Dweller– Ascetic (elder)

• http://www.ars-rhetorica.net/Queen/Volume11/Hijras/

• http://www.columbia.edu/~blw2102/

• http://www.rosenblatt-sf.com/SelPhotos_17_North_India.htm

• http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/weddings/2720.htm

• http://www.thewe.cc/contents/more/archive/aruvani.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunuch-hijra

10

Photograph sources:

Break into groups:

1. Females – inside wall

2. Hijra – middle of the room

3. Males – windows