In the United States, nonbinary gender identities are frequently under attack. from Elon Musk’s claim Efforts in some U.S. states to reduce access to gender-affirming care have prompted Western society to respond to reports that transgender people are suffering from the “wake-mind virus.” There seems to be a recognition that this poses a new threat to the world.
What Musk and his allies don’t realize is that many other cultures have long
I accepted a gender identity that transcended the Western boundaries of being male or female. Considering cross-cultural perspectives on gender highlights the limitations of the gender binary.
For example, India and other South Asian countries have recognized a third gender, the Hijra people, for hundreds of years. Hijras are often identified as male or intersex at birth, but are typically feminine in dress and behavior. The situation for hijras is complex. It is believed that they once valued special abilities such as the ability to bestow blessings that gave them high status. However, starting with the beginnings of British colonialism, hijras had few economic and occupational prospects and were at increased risk of sexual violence. Nevertheless, the existence of this category outside of the gender binary lends itself to the notion that the concept of two genders is universal and that any identity that lies outside of the binary is somehow the result of modern ideology. It raises questions.
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South Asia is not the only region in the world that supports more than one gender. The Bugis people of Indonesia believe that the five genders must live in harmony. For example, Bissu is believed to combine female and male energies. In the United States, many bis are called intersex, intersex Someone doesn’t need genitals to be a bitch. Rather, the experiences of men and women within a single person are important to questions of identity. Bisusu traditionally held high status because they were believed to have supernatural powers and the ability to communicate with the spirit world. As a result, they play a role similar to priests and shamans. Historically, they were valuable advisors to royalty. In recent decades, the Bissu people have experienced declining influence and increasing discrimination, but efforts are currently being made to preserve their traditional identity and practices.
Nonbinary genders are also accepted in what is now considered the United States and Canada. Many Native American and indigenous peoples recognize a third gender, where women and men are combined into one person. ofLakota Winkte Although they identify as male at birth, they assume many traditional female roles.
As you can see in other examples, this third gender is considered to have the following characteristics:special abilities Therefore, they are given high status roles associated with the paranormal. Tasks such as naming infants, caring for the sick, and counseling tribes could be jobs for Winkte. While colonizers sought to suppress non-binary gender identities among the Lakota and other peoples, many Native American and first-person tribes are once again beginning to celebrate the role of these individuals.
Although the status of non-binary genders varies, we often see these people experiencing high status and being given positions of power. So why do people who fall outside the gender binary often face prejudice, discrimination, and violence in American society?
In my role as a professor of psychology and gender studies, I argue that much of the hostility directed toward transgender people in our society is a result of people’s discomfort with acts that are considered transgressive against transgender people. I will.traditional gender roles. According to the theory ofintergroup anxietypeople with little experience with other groups may fear experiencing negative emotions during interactions with other groups. This anxiety may include fear of being embarrassed or rejected because one does not know how to interact with individuals in this group.
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For people who adhere to the idea that women and men should have distinct roles in society, the idea of ​​transgender individuals (who may not clearly fit into any of these categories) may be off-putting. I don’t know. Interacting with a transgender person can cause anxiety about how they should behave and what kind of behavior they should expect. Although the discomforts experienced by cisgender people are not the fault of transgender people, understanding the causes of these concerns can be a means to reduce stigma.
Psychological research supports this theory.numerous studies We show that support for traditional gender roles is correlated with negative attitudes toward transgender people. With this in mind, part of the solution to anti-transgender bias may be to promote less restrictive gender roles for everyone, not just transgender people. there is. If people don’t have firm expectations for gender-appropriate behavior, they may end up accepting a wide range of behaviors from all genders.
When we look at the current attacks on the rights of transgender people in the United States, there is little reference to the wide range of non-binary genders that exist around the world. However, considering a cross-cultural lens offers the potential to change the conversation about the nature of gender roles and expression.
Mariah Shueg She is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at Widener University. Professor Shug has conducted much of his research in the Faroe Islands, where he has considered the experiences of immigrants and the LGBTQIA+ community. In her education, she challenges her students to think about traditional concepts of gender and sexuality. She also wrote psychology today.
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