Difference between Transgender and Hijras
World is abounded with third sex i.e. transgender or eunuchs or hijras. But many people don’t know the difference between these two; rather they are unaware of the facts. Let’s reach into the tunnel of science and dig out the major difference between transgender and hijras.
Who is Transgender?
Transgender people may be considered as homosexual, bisexual, pan-sexual, asexual or poly sexual. It cannot only apply to a certain form of certain orientation. When we go through its definitions there are many of the definitions, in which one states that “people who are assigned with a sex at the time of the birth and based on the genitals, but they usually believe that something is wrong with their identity”
Transgender people have gender expression that differs from their sex assigned at birth. Some transgender people who need medical assistance to transit from on sexual identity to another are called as transsexual. Transgender is independent of sexual orientation. They identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or asexual.
Who are Hijras?
Considering Hijras; it is firstly a south Asian term. Hijras are the males who have feminine gender identity, and it is basically a description or a belief of South-Asian culture. They adopt feminine gender roles and mostly appear in the attire of females. In this sex, inter sex people are also involved. Here, it is the state of ambivalence; it is not certain whether they are males or females. They are known by different names in the Indian subcontinent. They are known as aravani, aruvani, jagappa, chhakka or kinner. The Hijras community is seeking their identity on the behalf of their own eunuch’s government.
They are now a called as ‘third sex or gender’. There is a religious act named “Nirwaan” that is adopted by many Hijras at the stage of beginning. This includes the eradication of cutting off the male organ.
Transgender vs. Hijras
Let’s now study in detail the difference between these two:
What medical science says?
As far as the transgender is concerned, it is a state where a person identifies oneself by gender orientation and not as a member of a community. On the other hand, Hijras who has physiological feminine gender identity and mostly appear in the female’s attire.
What kind of people are involved in these two identities?
When it comes to the transgender, people who do not identify exclusively with the gender, they are the cross dressers. It includes pre-operatives and post-operatives and non-operative transsexuals who generally feel that they are born into the wrong physical body. There is also a notion of those who feel that they are not suitable for the social expectations. Intersex people are also involved in it.
On the other hand, when it comes to the Hijras, it involves only Males; they particularly don’t have any sex orientation. In fact, more specifically they challenge the sexual orientations and considers them a new gender- ‘the third gender’.
Under which tendencies they can come?
Transgender can come under any sexual orientations like:
- Heterosexual
- Homosexual
- Bisexual
- Pansexual
- Poly-sexual
- Asexual
- And sometimes both the genders
On the other hand, Hijras comes under males. In this tendency, inter-sexual mostly comes.
Problems faced by transgender and hijras:
Transgender and hijras face the problem of transgender congruence i.e. they find difficult to feel genuine, authentic and comfortable in their external appearances and accept their genuine identity. They go through gender dysphoria. If provided, they need to seek hormone replacement therapy, sex reassignment surgery or psychotherapy. But not all transgender desire for these treatments. Some are comfortable and in harmony with their gender identities and roles.
How discrimination can knock their door?
Transgender people who are transiting may be vulnerable to discrimination. Transgender and hijras have to go through discrimination at workplace, educational institutes, public places and healthcare. Although strict laws are made to protect the rights of ‘the third gender‘, yet some governments and some anti-social groups do not acknowledge their existence and call their identity as psychological illness. There is also an important point to be noted down that they will have a strong need for the support of family and friends. On the other hand, Hijras face discrimination in the society. However, there is also a respect for them, if you are passing by a market and Hijras instantly comes and beg for money you give alms for the sake of religious purpose. Because their curse is not considered as a good omen, rather it can hurt you.
Sexual Relations
When it comes to the transgender, there is no particular sexual or gender orientation. In short, according to the biologists and socialists they can have sexual relations of their desire. Generally, sexual relationships are mostly carried out with an original gender of the person. For example, a transgender can transformed into a male and also can be transformed in to female so that he or she can have relation with the opposite sex.
Is there any legalization for them?
Transformation of transgender people is legalized in many countries but still there are a number of countries that don’t allow transformation of genders. There are no laws made for legalization of the Hijras community. However, there are constant efforts made by many Hijras activists for official recognition for themselves as a third gender. The day to day efforts are made for them so that they will no longer fight for their own identity.What is your opinion about them?
i would like to know that who are born hizras dont have any particular form of private parts. they just have a hole to pass urine without any shape. i would like to know how true is this? secondly it is said that the hizras have a right to take away the born hizras with them as their right so that their community does not losses its exhistance, how far is it true?
Hijras are also called ‘na-punsakam’. as per my knowledge, they have neither penis nor cunt except a hole to pass out urine. they look tall and they will have adam apple on their throat like men. however, it is found few of them having big breasts and the body curve like female. this and their feminine dress attract male the urge to have sex. men does sex with them. hijras do not have sex urge, whereas, they get sex urge on their mouth/throat, that’s why they wish to suck the penis of man. that’s their intercourse. their bodies are as smooth and tender. the regret part is they have facial hairs and some have hairs in their chest/s. by hormone correction, they either take certain medicines to eradicate these ‘hairs’ from their body to look more feminine to attract men. they do not have penis at all, if at all, it would be lesser than a kid’s small finger by length. they are not she male.
if anyone can throw more light please write to me at bbalushree@gmail.com. in fact, i wish to have a life partner with a hijra. she should not be more than 50 yrs old, i am 59 yrs, indian, residing in mumbai. she should have no encumbrance, basic educational qualifications. knowledge of either english, hindi, tamil or malayalam. marathi too will be considered. she should be 100% vegetarian, preferably a Hindu would be considered. thank you,
bbalushree@gmail.com
oye bc ye matrimony nahi haii😂
balu hahaha
HIJRAS are considered as male or female????
HIJRAS are considered as male or female
in between
Hijras are always male whereas transgenders are what they think and say they are
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Keep up the good writing.
I really have sympothy with the third gender i have craving to know more about them what acctually they are..
So I am a transgender woman and I feel like this article explained a lot of things to me about the Hijra but I think it failed in one important aspect of being a person of trans experience.
There is sex and then there is gender. These two things are different. Sex is what you are assigned at birth. If you have a penis you are male, if you have a vagina you are female. But gender happens in your heart, your mind, and your soul. No one ever tells a little boy, ” BE MALE!” cause that just happened at birth, they had no control over that. People do tell little boys, ” BE A MAN!” because being a man or woman is something that happens in your head, heart and soul.
And then there is a conflation of gender expression and gender identity. Gender expression is how you express yourself. There are some men who identify as men, who were assigned male sex at birth and they express themselves in more traditionally feminine ways. And some women, who identify as women and were assigned female at birth express more traditionally masculine characteristics. Bottom line is that people are all very different and varied in so man different ways.
But ultimately we are all looking for the same thing. Acceptance and love. All the other things that make us different make us special, unique and beautiful. We should embrace one another’s differences. Not isolate, marginalize or demean anyone. We all lose when that happens.
Wonderful answer I ever read. Thanks
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Are Transmen also considered as Hijras?
need some hints.