A Comparative Analysis of Hijras and Drag Queens: The Subversive Possibilities and Limits of Parading Effeminacy and Negotiating Masculinity

Bakshi, Sandeep

doi:10.4324/9781315244679-18

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Bakshi (2004) posits that sense of community is fundamental to the existence of Hijras, as is the case with other marginalized subcultures. A unique sub-culture serves their need for belonging and offers them protection for survival.…”

Section: Results Analysis and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Living with alternatives: Perceived crises, meaninglessness and efforts for a meaningful life in Indian Hijras

Verma,

Sharad,

Singh

et al. 2023

Culture & Psychology

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To understand the life world of Indian eunuchs who face a stigmatized societal status, the present study adopted an ethnographic approach. The study explored Indian Hijras' experiences vis-à-vis mainstream society. The issues that were explored included their perception of their societal status, their perceptions about the societal reaction towards them and ways they navigate through these challenges to create a meaningful life. A theoretical sample of eight Hijras was drawn and studied using semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Data was analysed using ethnographic content analysis and researcher’s reflection. Results reveal that hijras experience a life of crisis, which is fuelled by rejection in social relationships (particularly family), discrimination and exclusion at an early age, bullying, and their popular perception as sex workers. Their crises is financial (poverty and lack of employment opportunities), social and psychological (questioning one’s gender identity), resulting in isolation, loneliness, feeling of being abandoned, of being wronged, and perceived life dissatisfaction. All these factors contribute to meaninglessness in the lives of hijras and they start questioning their existence. Their efforts for a meaningful life revolve around cultivating familial relationships through adopting children, taking up parenting roles and nurturing the guru-chela relationship. Results also reveal positive experiences, that is largely due to their political participation and social service. The study has important policy implications for the Hijras. There is a need to create awareness about the unique life challenges of the Hijras, and help promote social justice and their right to education and employment.

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Section: Results Analysis and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Living with alternatives: Perceived crises, meaninglessness and efforts for a meaningful life in Indian Hijras

Verma,

Sharad,

Singh

et al. 2023

Culture & Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Como el drag se ha realizado de manera diferente a lo largo del tiempo y la geografía (Bakshi, 2004;Senselick, 2000;Swarr, 2004), nos concentramos en el drag en el Líbano, dividiéndolo en tres fases. La primera fase se remonta a hace un par de décadas, por sus raíces en la celebración ortodoxa cristiana de Santa Bárbara 1 (4 de diciembre).…”

Section: El Drag En El Líbanounclassified

Feminismos, violencias y redes sociales

2022

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¿Cuáles son las principales herramientas comunicativas de los movimientos feministas en Iberoamérica? ¿Qué papel juega la comunicación en la cuarta ola? ¿Cómo se articulan las contranarrativas a los discursos del odio digitales contra activistas y comunicadoras? Las investigaciones en comunicación y género de este libro permiten observar cómo se están produciendo avances a ambos lados del Atlántico, que dialogan sobre el espacio digital como un lugar de disputa discursiva y el rol fundamental de los movimientos feministas y las profesionales de la comunicación en la actualidad.

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“…One of the most nuanced and daunting challenges gender and sexuality researchers face when studying hijras is that there are numerous conflicting notions about what makes one a hijra. They have been defined as eunuchs, hermaphrodites, people with a physical defect, male or boy prostitutes, passive homosexuals and as a third gender and/or sex (Nanda, 1996, 1999; Bakshi, 2004) with a distinctive culture and rituals (Hall, 1997). This confusion is further compounded by hijra representations in the popular press and cinema, which are often superficial and sensationalist (Nanda, 1999) and fails to consider subjective perceptions.…”

Section: Being Hijra: a Socio-cultural Traditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Representation of Hijras in Bollywood Movie Laxmii: The Loss of Reality

Kumari

Singh

2022

Media Watch

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Due to their long-standing marginalisation in mainstream social and cultural settings, the hijra community continuously strives for recognition. Bollywood film Laxmii 2020 has added to the prejudice and misconceptions surrounding hijras by perpetuating biases and stereotypes and using them as a source of comic relief and mockery. This article examines the portrayal of hijras in the Bollywood movie Laxmii ( Lawrence, 2020 ) based on two dimensions. The first is gender identity, as examined through the performative theory of gender rather than essentialist formulations. Second, Baudrillard’s (1983) formulation of postmodern hyperrealism is applied to analyse the exaggerations and mutilations of common concepts. Considering the positive and negative portrayals of hijra characters in Bollywood movies, we attempt a comparative study to comprehend the evolution of hijra representation diaphanously. However, in Laxmii, a substantial gap is recognised between reality and fiction, as the movie fails to demonstrate the real-life experiences of the hijras while paving the way to the narrative of the unreal ghost.

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A Comparative Analysis of Hijras and Drag Queens: The Subversive Possibilities and Limits of Parading Effeminacy and Negotiating Masculinity

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Living with alternatives: Perceived crises, meaninglessness and efforts for a meaningful life in Indian Hijras

Living with alternatives: Perceived crises, meaninglessness and efforts for a meaningful life in Indian Hijras

Feminismos, violencias y redes sociales

Representation of Hijras in Bollywood Movie Laxmii: The Loss of Reality

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