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Gender Roles In Northern India

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All cultures recognize at least two genders, however, in some cultures there is a third or fourth gender and this is considered the supernumerary gender. These third or fourth genders usually involve a change of the male and female roles as well as their sex. In northern India, a third gender “hijra” is neither male nor female, but this gender includes elements of each (Carpo, 2013). Hijra gender functions as a religious role in this culture and must live an asexual life. To achieve this requires the surgical removal of the external genitalia. The removal of the genitalia and sexual abstinence is one way to demonstrate sacredness which allows the hijra to give blessing of fertility, prosperity and health. This is a source of their goodness

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