Neither Man nor Woman
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Transcript of Neither Man nor Woman
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
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Photograph sources:
Break into groups:
1. Females – inside wall
2. Hijra – middle of the room
3. Males – windows