Gender Discrimination in Muslim Societies: In Hetero Sexual Societies Hijras and Particularly LGBTQI Suffer Because They Are Not Socially Acceptable
By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New
Age Islam
2 June 2023
Hijras of Kashmir: A Marginalized form of Personhood
Author: Dr Aijaz Ahmad Bund
Publisher: Jay Kay Books, Kashmir, India
Year of Publication: 2018
Pages: 288, Price: Rs 1295
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There is a lot of Gender discrimination
prevalent in Muslim societies. This discrimination gets reinforced when
religion as a tool is exploited to marginalize the discriminated lot. The
repression of sexual minorities is a factual reality among Muslims, who always
consider it taboo to engage and address this issue. The new discourse about
LGBTQI has coerced the Muslim societies to explore this issue. Although, most
of them as usual continue to brush this issue under the carpet, but it
certainly does not help address the growing demands and challenges LGBTQI
communities and minorities pose. The ostrich approach certainly will not help
Muslims to triumph over these sexual minorities, but with time they will need
to be engaged and understood. Only dialogue will help to build bridges and
negotiate amicably with them, instead of just punishing them and declaring them
apostates.
Transgenders have always been an
indispensable part of the Muslim society. However, for most of the time they
have existed at the periphery and margins of the society. Like any Muslim or
south Asian society, transgenders face a lot of discrimination in Kashmir
valley too. This book, written by a LGBTQ activist and military feminist, Dr
Aijaz Ahmad Bund, is a unique study to understand the multi-dimensional problems
and issues that transgenders face in every aspect of life. Bund uses the
methodology of participant observer, while aligning himself with this minority.
This book is divided into eight chapters, besides an introduction and
conclusion. The sample size of twenty-four participants has been used to
collect information to understand transgenders. Bund informs the reader about
the thin line that separates gender construction and sexual expression in these
words, “The distinction between the gender expression and sexual orientation is
a major problem in Kashmir. The effeminate men are often labelled as
homosexuals and even the homosexuals are labeled as third gender.” (P-25)
The book engages with the construction and
making of Hijras in India and definitions about the sexual orientation. The
Hijras or transgenders suffer from a plethora of problems, as they live an
invisible substandard life that is informed with problems and challenges.
Transgenders although are defined and like to be defined by their sexuality as
they consider it their primary identity. But they do not constitute a monolith,
as their demographics, income levels, education, livelihood are variegated.
Then there is sexual exploitation and harassment of Hijras that many times
paves way for depression among them. They face three pronged problems, “Gender
and sexual minorities in Kashmir face tripartite discrimination; the major
setbacks include conservative society, fundamentalist religious ideology, and
armed conflict.” (P-104)
Most of the times they are not able to come
to terms between their sexuality and Muslim identity, as the society does not
even distinguish between sex and gender. These are people who are neither male
nor female. They are not well organized in Kashmir and they do not go for hormonal
therapy or castration but express an earnest desire to go for the body
modifications. They do have lovers and boyfriends, who many times deceive them.
They suffer from psychological traumas and institutional injustices. While
sexuality is central to Hijra identity, there are elaborate induction rituals
for becoming part of the community. They communicate in a secret language with
each other that they have developed over centuries.
There is a neglect depicted by their family
towards them and society mostly rejects them. They are denied any legitimate
share in the property. They face severe street harassment and abuses. Most
atrocities against them are committed by police and law enforcing agencies
(P-139). Many educational institutions deny admission to trans-students. Even
if they are successful in securing an admission, they face sexual harassment
from the fellow students, which results in most of them not being able to
complete their education and becoming drop outs. Further, there are diminishing
livelihood opportunities and options available to Hijras in Kashmir. Earlier,
they mostly used to act as middle men and go between among the potential
families searching prospective brides and grooms as part of the arranged
marriage. But now most of the youth prefer to marry out of their own choices,
selecting their own spouses and partners, thus Hijras are no more needed. Also,
they used to sing the traditional marriage songs (Wanwun), during marriage
functions, but now that too is getting replaced by professional youth singing
bands.
Hijras struggle for getting decent
shelters, as most families do throw them out and do not want them. They run
into the risk of not even finding rented homes. Most of them are suffering from
health problems that include sexual, physical and mental. Add to it the old age
disease with no social support and many times they are denied even the
graveyards, as they do not own one. In hetero sexual societies Hijras and
particularly LGBTQI suffer because they are not socially acceptable. They
suffer because they do not fit in the binary of man and woman. There is
transphobia prevalent among people against them.
There is a dire need of social work
intervention among Hijras. Social workers need to take into account the
problems of Hijras and try to mitigate them. For Dr Bund, “Social work needs to
take action in three main areas: policy, research and practice in order to
address the issue of gender and sexual minorities.” (P-242) This is a timely
book that helps to understand the issues of Hijras in Kashmir Valley. The
author needs to be congratulated for his feat, as this is still an under
researched topic in the Valley. This book is an essential read for every policy
maker, researcher, government official and activist who intends to understand
the issues and problems of Hijras holistically. It is indeed an enlightening
read that is backed by real interaction and engagement with the Hijra community
of Kashmir.
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M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir
URL:
https://newageislam.com/books-documents/gender-societies-hetero-sexual-hijras-lgbtqi/d/129904
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