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 ------ 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. ------ 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 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism