Berdache - 961 Words

Berdache and present day Trans individuals, A comparison of Valentine’s amp; Gutià ©rrez’s views on establishing gender covenants. In comparing Warfare, homosexuality, gender status among native American Indian men in the southwest by Gutierrez and I know what I am by Valentine one is struck by the apparent differences that both authors have on multiple levels despite their agreement on gender identity as a product of society and culture. Through discrepancies in tone and evidence selection light can be shed on these aforementioned points of contestation. Gutierrez’s main point of: â€Å"Gender is a role not a status† (Gutierrez pg 29) Permeates his argument in a strong tonal sense through its fatalistic and impersonal attributes.†¦show more content†¦Utilizing transference immediately and preserving the seeming normalization of the traditional dualistic view of gender roles. In turn reinforced by a somewhat insightful but mystical account of the spiritual and power bases of each gender within the society (Gutierrez 28). In a sense it seems he is avoiding the idea of transgender all together, the unwritten implication being that our current notion of transgendered is nothing but that, a notion developed by ours culture in our present. Valentine on the other hand in seeking out so many conflicted and widespread views of gender and self creates enough fragmentation of gender labels for his argument of individualism and self-identity to shine out. In presenting the reader with individuals such as Mona(Valentine 116) plagued with alternating bouts of confusion and zealous certainty regarding herself and labels, Valentine practically invites the reader to conclude that certain gender bound labels cannot be on good faith placed by the reader on such individuals. Additionally in interviewing Sheryl who is not part of the typical subjects found at the meat market, the argument on its own is lent credibility by further enlarging the representation of the gender queer segment to both drag queens and individuals from different ethnic and financialShow MoreRelatedEssay The Berdache of Early American Conquest3448 Words   |  14 PagesThe Berdache of Early American Conquest Methodological Introduction This paper attempts to link the facet of queer theory that explains gender and sexuality as culturally constructed identities, with the presence of the berdache in the New World at the time of the Spanish conquest. By analyzing the construction of gender and sexuality among the native peoples, in contrast to the ideologies of the Spanish, I found a clash arose which explained, in some sense, the incompatibility of the twoRead MoreAnalysis Of Travesti s Travesti Essay1318 Words   |  6 Pagescan have a penis and still get men to want them. The travestis can be compared to the Berdache in Native American Culture, as they both display the spirit of masculinity as well as femininity. Much like the Berdache, travestis are the ones being penetrated, although they do penetrate, they prefer being the submissive (Kulick, pg. 122). They are also very different and from different periods in time. The Berdache were taken to war as a â€Å"feminine essence† and used to heal, cook, and provide pleasureRead MoreA Native American Who Demonstrated Homosexual Tendencies1945 Words   |  8 Pages Berdache Elijah Gonzales Irvine Valley College Abstract Berdache was a derogatory term that was used by the French to describe a Native American who demonstrated homosexual tendencies. Although European culture and other traditions around the world condemned same-sex relationships, the precolonial Native American society had different perception about such individual. Native Americans, accepted and tolerated androgynous individuals. In fact , they called them â€Å"two-spirited† persons sinceRead MoreEssay on The Social Construction of Gender1511 Words   |  7 PagesTo His Day: The Social Construction of Gender, Page 460) In other countries this might not even be the case, some countries have more than two genders. These other genders are often called berdaches, hijras, or xaniths. ?Some societies have three genders-men, women, and berdaches, or hijras, and xaniths. Berdaches, hijras, and xaniths are biological males who behave, dress, work, and are treated in most respects as social women; they are therefore not men, nor are the y female women; they are in ourRead MoreThe Social System Of Native Americans And Europeans Essay1403 Words   |  6 PagesHowever, gender was not a social construct meaning Natives were able to change their genders without having to fear rejection or shame. These people became known as berdaches or male homosexuals. Berdaches were well-known to Indian culture and were greatly respected and seen as any normal person. Natives recognized the signs of a berdaches at a young age â€Å"when a boy showed interest and aptitude in women’s work or a girl persistently engaged in the activities of boys and men† (Strange Country unknownRead MoreSocial Construction of Gender1183 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferences between human females and males. The building blocks of gender are socially constructed statuses. Western societies have only two genders, man and woman. Some societies have three genders-men, women, and berdaches or hijras or xaniths. Berdaches, hijras, and xaniths are biological males who behave, dress, work, and are treated in most respects as social women; they are therefore not men, nor are they female women; they are, in our language, male women.4Read MoreLegalization of Same-Sex Marriage715 Words   |  3 Pagesguidance. It wasn’t so much a right of passage, but it was a role offered to a child - whom would have powers beyond those of ordinary shamans. This belief was quelled by the Spanish, who thought the berdaches needed to be straightened (double entendre, pun-intended), and punished. The Spanish would put berdaches through unbelievable torture which include: burning, public execution, and being torn to pieces by dogs. This isn’t as surprising when you take into account that the Spanish were largely CatholicRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article Reconfiguring Gender 1099 Words   |  5 Pagesthe nonbinary gender system also known as berdache tradition. Studies have shown tribes that have not been tainted by modern culture live a society that can be vastly different than what we know when it comes to gender. Some reverse the roles that â€Å"traditionally† are seen as a male role implicated by a female. This evidence proves how much society can influence others on their ideas about how the world works. I wish we were in the society of the berdache, but regrettably we are not and in order toRead MoreGender And Gender Essay1589 Words   |  7 Pagesthe other role easily. Unlike most of the Unites States, some cultures have a tertiary gender system. This tertiary system gives the individual three genders to choose from. In some Native American cultures, this third gender is called Berdache. Someone who is Berdache is a male that is treated female. In India, there is also a tertiary gender system in which the third gender is a male also treated female called Hijras (Macionis and Mead 2017). Mead goes on to conclude that â€Å"culture is the key to genderRead MorePolicing The Potty, The Dark Veil Of Protection883 Words   |  4 Pageshad the spirit of both a man and a woman. These â€Å"two-spirit people† were believed to more easily navigate between the feminine and masculine world. When Europeans discovered the existence of the Native Americans, they called the two spirit people â€Å"berdaches,† a word that means male prostitute, and thought of them as homosexuals. More examples of additional genders include the â€Å"bissu of South Sulawesi†, who were thought to help with the fertility of rulers, the â€Å"mahus of Polynesia†, who preformed women’s