Culture
and the
Individual
GENDER SPECTRUMS
Gender
The social and cultural
components of being male
and female.
Bem Androgeny Scale
Masculine Index
Feminine Index
Male Median Score:
23
21
Female Median Score:
22
25
High Male, Low Female……………Masculine
High Female, Low Male……………Feminine
High Male, High Female…………...Androgenous
Low Male, Low Female ……………Undifferentiated
Gender-Crossing Behaviors
and Traditions
•
•
•
•
Cross-dressing rituals
Female Warriors
Same Sex Marriages
Inter-gendered religious
practitioners
• Entertainers
Alternative Gender Systems
Berdache
Ihamana
Amazon
Hijras
Bissu, Calalai & Calabai
Waria
Fa’afafine
Fakaleiti
Rae Rae/Maju
Native America
Zuni
Native America
India & Pakistan
Sulawesi (Indonesia)
Java & Bali
Samoa
Tonga
Tahiti
Waria from Java
This alternative gender role
exists in Java, Indonesia. It
is a native custom that is
deeply ingrained in the
culture, and Muslim
scholars have found that it
does not violate Islamic
principles.
Sulawesi Indonesia
Five Genders
• http://www.youtube
.com/watch?v=K9Vm
LJ3niVo
Berdache
North America
Among many North American
tribes, male children who
display feminine characteristics
at an early age are raised as
Berdache, a person with both
male and female characteristics
who has been sent as a gobetween to mediate between
males and females. Berdaches
were typically apprenticed to a
shaman or healer. They learned
to perform the work of both
men and women and dressed as
Berdache
Berdache also included females choosing to
live as males. Sioux women could choose to
become warriors and became female
husbands to female wives. Among the Kaska,
families always raised one of their daughters
to become a hunter and warrior. Such a
women had sexual relations with other
women, and sexual contact with men caused
bad luck.
Fa’afahine,
Samoa
In the Pacific, when families have too
many sons, sons may be raised as girls
to insure enough hands to accomplish all
the women’s tasks in the household.
Traditionally, as adults these individuals
would continue to perform female tasks
but would marry a woman. Today,
fa’afahine ae frequently gay and usually
choose to live as women. Families today
allow such sons to choose which gender
role fits them personally. Fa’afahine are
valuable members of society because
they combine the skills of women with the
strength of men.
Fa’afafina in Samoa
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G
V_g6X2PEvs
Hijras are a tradition
in India and Pakistan.
They play a very
important role in
society as they provide
entertainment that is
required at many
ritual occasions. They
are men who dress and
act as females. They
are either born as
hermaphrodites, or
choose to become
hijra. Many who
choose to become hijra
undergo castration.
This was required in
the past in order to
work as a guard for
harems, and continues
today as a powerful
symbol of membership
in the hijra
community.
Hijras
Hijra in India & Pakistan
Videos
• http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=yDoVLDHS
QYQ&feature=related
• http://www.encycloped
ia.com/video/wBs4ruf3bw-my-big-fatpunjabiweddinghijras.aspx
• http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=mCk27Kvtrw&feature=relm
fu
• http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=uYxx7zeLw
Dk
• http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=uzOK4tkGr
eg