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The Third Sex: On The Fringes of Society
The Third Sex: On The Fringes of Society
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The Third Sex – On the Fringes of Society
Transsexual is an individual who identifies with a physical sex The guru imparts singing, dancing and other skills to his chelas to
that is different from his biological one. In simple words, enable them to earn their own living. The chelas are expected to
transsexualism is a desire to live and be accepted as a member turn their earnings to the guru, who uses this money for
of the opposite sex, accompanied by a sense of discomfort with, maintaining the household.
or inappropriateness of, one's anatomic sex, and a strong desire
to have surgery and hormonal treatment to make one's body as They impersonate many aspects of the female gender role; for
congruent as possible with one's preferred sex. Many instance, they dress up like women, imitate their gait, gestures,
transsexuals have sex reassignment surgery, in which their voice, facial expressions and language, but do not desire to be
genitals are modified. recognized as women. They take up feminine names when they
join the khawaja sara community, and use feminine kinship
Transgender is a person who is born with typical male or female terms for each other like sister, mother, aunt, grandmother etc.
anatomies but feels as though he/she has been born into the
“wrong body. However, unlike transsexuals, a transgender is not Their major sources of income include singing and dancing on
plagued with the extreme need or desire to modify body. They marriages, birth celebrations and other auspicious occasions,
may take hormones, but do not have genital sex reassignment begging for alms and sex work. However, there is a small
surgery. Some live as members of the other sex, while others educated English speaking class of transgenders who does not
stake out "third gender" status. have to go through the same hardships due to their social and
economic status. They usually become fashion designers,
Khawaja Sara/Murat/Hijra/Khusra are various terms used in makeup artists, interior decorators and hair stylists or settle
Pakistan to refer to members of the third gender. The Pakistani somewhere abroad.
third gender community includes hermaphrodites, transsexuals,
transvestites, transgenders and eunuchs. However, the majority The transformation of the Pakistani society, in the last few
who subscribe themselves as a member of the khawaja sara decades, has curtailed opportunities for khawaja saras to
community are either born hermaphrodites or transsexuals. The practice traditional occupations, and has increased their
terms hijra is considered derogatory and they prefer being called dependence on prostitution and beggary.
Khawaja Sara or Murat. Although dressed as women, most of
them believe they are neither women nor men. A murat is a Mainstream society's deep – rooted apprehensions of their
combination of two Urdu words mard (man) and aurat gender non-conformity manifests itself in the refusal of basic
(woman). citizenship rights to these communities. With no safety net in the
form of family, society or state; harassment, abuse, and sexual
All these identities have no exact match in the modern western violence are the stark realities of a khawaja sara's day-to-day
taxonomy of gender and sexual orientation. Most are born life.
apparently male, but some may be intersex (with ambiguous
genitalia). They are often perceived as a third sex, and most see A Rendezvous with Death
themselves as neither men nor women. However, some may Hina Pathani, a 32 years old hermaphrodite, who dances and
see themselves (or be seen as) females, feminine males or begs for a living, was kidnapped, raped and tortured brutally
androgynes. Some, especially those who speak English, and are
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Voicing Issues of Victims of Human Rights Violations in Pakistan
about eight months ago. “About eight months ago, when I was influential social or political groups.
walking back to my house, a group of local hustlers kidnapped
me. They took all the money I had, and raped me. Later, after Hina's case was, however, registered and while the verdict
beating the hell out of me, they cut my long hair off with a knife, awaits, she hopes to get some redressal for the brutality she
threw me in the street and ran away.” suffered. “I cannot understand the insensitivity and indifference
of those who refuse to take a stand when they see abuse
“None of my neighbors came to my rescue,” said Pathani, her perpetrated on us by miscreants,” said Rana indignantly. “No
eyes welling up with hurt and disgrace. “Even when I was lying matter how outrageous their behavior, others often stand by and
half dead in the street no one came to help.” inadvertently fuel this abominable behavior,” continued Rana in
an injured tone.
This is not an unusual incidence of violence and disgrace in a
khawaja sara's life. Hina's story is one among many similar stories of discrimination.
Various forms of discrimination impacting khawaja saras include
But what makes Hina's case extraordinary is her courage and workplace discrimination, housing discrimination,
Bindya Rana's support. Rana, president of Gender Interactive discrimination in public accommodations, and bias-motivated
Alliance (GIA), a non-governmental organization (NGO) working violence. Due to their physical and/or psychological state
for the protection of the rights of khawaja saras' is also the khawaja saras' in Pakistan put up with, a disproportionate
official spokesperson for the khawaja sara community in Sindh. amount of homelessness, unemployment, low income and
other financial disadvantages. Harassment and discrimination at
It was Rana who heard about the unpleasant incident and took educational institutions, workplaces and health facilities are the
Hina to a nearby hospital and registered a case against the most recurrent complaints.
kidnappers. She not only reported the case in the police station,
but also pursued it in the Sindh High Court. Holistically speaking , societal values, traditions,
misrepresentation and misinterpretation of religion not only
Sharing her disgruntlement, Rana said: “This shocking instance support, but also reinforce aggression, violence and oppression
of brutal violence portrays the ever-present fear under which a against khawaja saras. The general public considers them sleazy
khawaja sara leads her life,” explained Rana. and evil for their inappropriate behavior, vulgar gesticulation,
obscene language, sundry jokes and involvement in sex work.
Hina was lucky, because many a times the violence is inflicted by Interestingly, intolerance of the general society against khawaja
the police itself, and such cases mostly go unreported, said Rana. saras based on their actual or perceived gender identity or
In many instances, the police is found to either be the direct expression adversely affects their psychological, physical, social,
source of violence, or protecting the assailants belonging to and economic well-being.
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The Third Sex – On the Fringes of Society
Family, as an institution, plays a crucial role in marginalization of Although leaving school didn't put a stop to Riffi's education, but
khawaja sara. Intolerance of gender non-conformity in terms of finding a job later was a real problem. Riffi told us that she has
attitudes, identity, and behavior results in violent and two masters' degrees -- one in political science and another in
insufferable attempts by family members at maintaining and economics. But she never attended college or university, as a
reinforcing the more acceptable heterosexist regime. regular student after her bitter experience at school.
Moreover, there are not many cultural or social examples for Sara Gill, a transsexual medical student, said even if she dresses
families to draw on and try to understand the gender identity up like a boy in her college, other students and teachers make
and behavior of their children. Therefore, instead of protecting a fun of her and make taunting remarks on her gait and
child from the mental and physical torture inflicted on them by gesticulation.
the wider society, the family itself humiliates beats and, in most
cases, banishes the child from the house. “I try my best to hide my true gender identity. I do not articulate
or express that I am a transsexual, but still teachers have a
Generally, the violation of the social codes that specify how a discriminatory attitude towards me, and they ridicule me for my
man is to behave is punished by out-casting of the person who effeminate ways,” she added.
deviates from the norm. The enormous sense of isolation
transgenders face in their own family finds consolation and hope Unequal Opportunity Employments
only when they come across the khawaja sara community Social discrimination in employment is one of the main factors of
where they have acceptance. Most of the khawaja saras report their involvement in sex work. Unfortunate but inevitable
that had their families not shunned them in their childhood, they entrapment of many khawaja saras in prostitution reinforces the
could have had a better life, a better future. Once the khawaja stigmatization of the whole community as outcastes.
saras becomes financially independent, the families sometimes Abandoned by the family, unable to obtain proper
grudgingly accept them. In most cases, their return is welcomed documentation, education and employment, many transgender
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Voicing Issues of Victims of Human Rights Violations in Pakistan
children take up sex work in order to survive in an unfriendly in chasing loan defaulters. “It has been a good experience as
environment. When young and immature, many of them take the CBC staff was trained before we were recruited as recovery
some degree of comfort in their acceptance as women by men officers. We are not harassed; no one mocks or taunts us in the
who use them sexually, unable to recognize the long term office,” she said suggesting other organizations should train and
consequences that they face when the society refuses to offer educate their staff to “tolerate us so as to make our lives less
any other work to them except beggary. miserable”.
Pathani served in Abu Dhabi Criminal Investigation Cell (CIC) as a Inhospitable Hospitals
watchman for five years, before coming back to Pakistan after a The night Pathani was raped, Rana tried to call several
serious accident. “I never had a problem working with men in ambulance services to take her to the hospital, but to no avail. “I
Abu Dhabi as there were no issues of harassment or abuse. Even tried to call many free ambulance services, but none of them
though I pretended I was a man, most of my co-workers figured came. With much difficulty we hired a car and took her to the
out my true gender identity. I never felt degraded or hospital for medical care. Hina could have died that night had we
discriminated in Abu Dhabi for being a transsexual,” said not decided to rent a vehicle,” said Rana. “Khawaja saras are
Pathani. treated worse than animals,” continued Rana. “A simple task like
going from one place to another becomes an ordeal if one is
Sharing her ordeal, Pathani continued, “Unfortunately, in neither male nor female.”
Pakistan it is not possible for a transgender to find a suitable
employment and enjoy respect. When I returned back, I tried my The disgrace continued even inside the hospital, the medical
best to find a reasonable job. Discrimination and harassment staff refused to treat Pathani as they thought it was a police case.
were the major reasons for my job hopping, and after a year I Only when Rana lodged a First Information Report (FIR) with the
realized that there was no option for me but to join a khawaja local police station that Pathani was treated. “Her registration as
sara group. Now I beg and dance to earn money in order to a patient, and the hospital staff's confusion, about which ward
support myself and my old father.” she should be put into, and their sneering contempt of our
presence in the hospital, are other painful stories that I don't
There is a very small portion of the khawaja sara community want to get into,” said Rana. “Men or women can never
which is educated. Apart from discrimination, low levels of understand this puzzling world in which a transgender leads his
education also add to their economic and social powerlessness. life. It is hell on earth, not only due to our psychological or
But, even for those who are educated and who manage to physical state, but more because of the indifference and
overcome the formidable barriers, it's not easy to find a job and intolerance of the so called 'normal' people around us.” The
be treated with respect. Riffi said that a suitable job that medical establishment discriminates khawaja saras at various
promises respect as well as financial stability was like a dream, levels, whether they go in for treatment of common ailments, or
until a few months ago when after the apex courts suggestion, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV (Human
the Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC) involved ten khawaja saras Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency
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The Third Sex – On the Fringes of Society
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Voicing Issues of Victims of Human Rights Violations in Pakistan
Article 294 - Prohibits any "obscene" public acts, songs, music or A Favorable Verdict – Only On Paper?
poems. Supreme Court's monumental verdict, delivered on November,
2009 was a watershed decision on affirming khawaja saras'
Article 371A - Whoever sells, lets to hire, or otherwise disposes community's rights in Pakistan. The court not only ordered a
of any person with intent that such a person shall at any time be survey of khawaja sara citizens of Pakistan, but also instructed
employed or used for the purpose of prostitution or illicit the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to
intercourse with any person or for any unlawful and immoral issue new computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) to them
purpose, or knowing it to be likely that such person shall at any indicating their status rather than classifying them as
time be employed or used for any such, purpose, shall be men/women. With these new CNICs their gender identity will
punished with imprisonment which may extend to twenty-five be acknowledged and they would be able to benefit from
years, and shall also be liable to fine. Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and other
government welfare schemes.
Article 377 - Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against
the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be The court ruling primarily deals with the issue of the khawaja
punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of sara community regarding harassment and illegal police
either description for a term which shall not be less than two detention. It has also issued orders to guarantee health care and
years nor more than ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. their right to inheritances, which are sometimes, denied by their
Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse families who have rejected them due to their gender non-
necessary to the offence described in this section. conformity. The court has also asked provincial governments to
provide progress reports on what steps they are taking to
Criminalizing the very existence of the khawaja sara these laws improve the current situation of transgender community.
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The Third Sex – On the Fringes of Society
This case study has been authored by Ms. Gulnaz Nisar Bhutta. During its compilation expert opinion on the subject was sought from
Ms. Nargis N. D. Khan, Minister for Social Welfare; and Ms. Nuzhat Kidvai, Convenor, Women Action Forum.
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