Abstract This paper examines how travesties of Brazil reproduce and reinforce gender and sexual norms of Brazilian society even as they transgress them. It takes a look at how they reflect dominant ideas about men and women, masculinity and femininity. The paper also compares travesties to the berdache of native North America in order to show how sexual "others" in different cultures, even though historically and geographically distant. The paper concludes that both reveal the culturally constructed nature of sex and gender and even emphasize it as they reflect locally meaningful social norms.
From the Paper "Travestis did not only adopt and reproduced the female image, they have also reinforced it. They are in a constant competition with Brazilian woman. This includes body shape, fashion and behavior. Thus travestis are generally better dressed, better maintained, have better lovers (Kulick, 1998). In order to feel feminine when you do not (or are not), the formula to follow is described above. Relating it only reinforces the prescribed feminine image in the eyes of observers. This application shows that it is an accepted way of being a "female". Making it something close to competition places additional weight on this socially constructed perception of a woman."
Abstract This paper shall examine, in the context of selected writings from native literature, whether there is a relationship between the role of the "Berdache" or third gender in traditional Native cultures, and the roles played by contemporary "Two-Spirited" writers.
Abstract This essay outlines the experience of cross gendered people in both India and the West and discusses liminal aspects of cross gendered experience. The paper begins with a history of the separation of "gender" and "sex", which occurred in the latter half of the twentieth century. The use of the term "gender" as a reference for the social aspects of sex identity first occurred in the context of clinical research on intersexuality (hermaphroditism) in the 1950?s. The paper then explores the issues of transgender and cross-gender in today's times, specifically focussing on India as compared to the West. The paper explains that sex and gender are currently being redefined by feminist scholars with challenges to the 'universal' sex/gender binary through cross-cultural analysis.
From the Paper "One of the most dynamic and relevant areas in anthropology today is the field of sex and gender in anthropology, with feminist scholars redefining Western, and anthropological, sex/gender "norms" through cross-cultural analysis. "The possibility of having more than two genders was opened up by divorcing gender from sexual morphology and by associating gender rather, indeed primarily, with social role and labour tasks" (Ramet 1996: 2). While concepts of universal, male:female, sexual binaries are being called into question, cross-cultural evidence and anthropological theories are being employed in entirely new ways."
A discussion on how reading Hugh Dempsey's chapter "
They Acted Like Women" from "The Vengeful Wife and Other Blackfoot Stories" changes our understanding of alternative sexualities in Native Americans.
Abstract The paper examines Chapter 5 of Hugh Dempsey's work "The Vengeful Wife and Other Blackfoot Stories" and how changes our perception of homosexuality in Native American tribes. The paper relates that this chapter, entitled "They Acted Like Women", dispels many myths and stereotypes and gives the reader a better understanding of the underlying causes of the various gender roles in Native American society. The paper concludes that Dempsey makes the Westernized reader step out of their world and out of their own biases. He allows the reader to explore gender differences from a much different perspective than other western authors
Outline:
Gender and Gender Roles
Towards an Egalitarian Society
Biology or Sociology?
From the Paper "Native American culture is much more flexible in its interpretation of lifestyle variations. The focus of Native American society was on the roles that a person played within he tribe and daily activities, than on sexual behavior. Dempsey explores some of the various roles and examples of men and women that deviated from the norm. Native American society allowed for a definition of gender that was neither male nor female, yet encompassed the roles of both at the same time.
"Dempsey examines the variations of gender roles that existed within Native American society. His exploration makes us realize that there are many more ways to define gender roles than our limited Western vocabulary allows. "Berdache" is the word used to describe individuals of a definitive physiological sex who take on the status and role of the opposite sex (Dempsey, 2003). There are a number of sexual preferences out of the norm that fall into this category. This category encompasses homosexuals, transvestites, or simply one who shows strong characteristics of the opposite sex."
