Factors Affecting the Social Exclusion of Eunuchs (Hijras) in Pakistan

Ahmed, Umair

doi:10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p2277

Cited by 11 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Owing to these, our study population were involuntarily compelled to cross the line where 76% reported begging and 39% selling sex; multivariate analysis identifying social exclusion the main culprit. Similar sinful and inappropriate conducts/habits as a reaction of social exclusion were also reported in other studies conducted in Pakistan, Bangladesh & India [ 1 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 ]. Around 80% of our study sample reported being attacked physically/verbally on one or more occasions in the last one year; all attributed to gender or identity discrimination.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Our findings provide evidence that transgender community living in Pakistan face extreme form of social exclusion mainly because of negative attitude of people towards them as shown by Ahmed et al study [ 1 ]. Discriminatory victimization, institutional discrimination, physical/verbal abuse, forced sex at the tender age and lack of support from the family and community all have the potential for sizeable effects on the risky behaviors; including high rates of suicidal ideation/attempts in transgender, selling sex and drug abuse [ 15 ]. Owing to these, our study population were involuntarily compelled to cross the line where 76% reported begging and 39% selling sex; multivariate analysis identifying social exclusion the main culprit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was evident from our findings that the alleged /so called social and religious norms of our country force exclusion of transgender from performing a role of normalcy [ 1 , 13 ]. Unfortunately, this social exclusion starts from their early childhood till old age [ 15 , 17 ]. In this current study unemployment was much higher (94.4%) as compared to 44% seen in USA [ 14 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Understanding the results of this social exclusion, it is not hard to appreciate that because of lack of educational, occupational and social opportunities; they are left with no other means of earning a living but to opt for ways not acceptable religiously or in the society i.e. begging, dancing and even selling sex [ 1 , 15 ] Field et al [ 18 ] and Baiocco et al [ 21 ] also put forth the indicators of social exclusion leading to unfair means of earning. Unfortunately, in countries like Pakistan with majority living in low socio economic conditions; children exhibiting sexual confusions eventually end up with the hijra community.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, in countries like Pakistan with majority living in low socio economic conditions; children exhibiting sexual confusions eventually end up with the hijra community. [ 15 ] These closed communes act as individual family units; with the Guru serving the role of decision maker while hijras work as income generators [ 1 , 12 ]. In the resent past due to the rapid increase in inflation & their limited role in ceremonies; these income generators find themselves in constant struggle for economic sustainability [ 23 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Challenges faced by marginalized communities such as transgenders in Pakistan

Shah¹,

Rashid²,

Atif³

et al. 2018

Pan Afr Med J

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IntroductionStigmatization, social exclusion and consequent banishment from the society makes transgender's life even tougher; isolating, pushing and forcing them into inappropriate conducts/habits like selling sex. This study investigates the association of social exclusion/victimization with high-risk behaviors among transgender community of Rawalpindi and Islamabad (Pakistan).MethodsThrough a cross-sectional study design, a sample of 189 transgender community living in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad was selected using snowball sampling technique. A validated close ended questionnaire was used to estimate the high-risk behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the competing outcomes associated with suicidal risk, selling sex and substance abuse.ResultsMajority study participants 77.8% experienced physical attacks with institutional discrimination even higher (91.5%). Commercial sex work and drug abuse was reported in 39.2% and 37.6% respectively. The prevalence of suicide ideation was high (38.6%) however, suicide attempted rate was less (18.5%). In the multivariate logistic regression, compared to those with no risk, being physically attacked increased the odds of both attempting (OR=2.18) and contemplating suicide and selling sex (OR=4.10). Nevertheless, the relative impact of institutional victimization on suicidal behavior was higher among those who were targeted on the basis of their gender identity or expression (AOR = 6.20, CI = 1.58-24.29, p=0.009).ConclusionThe transgender community is socially excluded by the Pakistani society where they experience high levels of physical abuse and face discriminatory behavior in daily life. Such attitudes make them vulnerable for risky behaviors; forcing them to become commercial sex workers, begging, drugs use and even suicidal ideation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Challenges faced by marginalized communities such as transgenders in Pakistan

Shah¹,

Rashid²,

Atif³

et al. 2018

Pan Afr Med J

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Fleeing Gender: Reasons for Displacement in Pakistan’s Transgender Community

Munir¹

2018

LGBTI Asylum Seekers and Refugees From a Legal and Political Perspective

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Transgender women in Pakistan, or khwaja siras, continue to suffer human rights abuses that cause many to become Internally Displaced Persons, despite legal protections in their favor. The chapter poses a twofold question to explore this inconsistency. Firstly, it draws from illustrative case study research to identify the discrimination that informs transgender perceptions of persecution and forces them from their homes. Based predominantly on qualitative data, it presents a 5-part typology of cumulative forms of discrimination against khwaja siras in terms of family, employment, housing, education, and healthcare. Importantly, police act as key agents of persecution for them, permitting and participating in their oppression. Secondly, this sociolegal study asks how such widespread discrimination against transgender women can persist notwithstanding legal reforms-a problem of social progress failing to result from legal progress. It finds that human rights protections for the transgender population lack actual implementation due to inaccurate legal wording, low level of trust in legal institutions, and generalized social stigma against the LGBTI community. This analysis revealed not only that mainstream social conservatism mitigates enforcement of LGBTI-friendly laws, but also that such conservatism creates an environment in which their persecution qualifies khwaja siras for, but yet impedes their ability to gain, UN protection as refugees at the international level. The empirical data from this research draws heavily on four comparative life histories of khwaja siras, two who gained refugee status and two who did not, which demonstrate the patterns of persecution against the transgender community in Pakistan.

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Human-nonhuman home: bioregional cosmopolitan exploration of intersex identity in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

Sarkar

2022

Gender, Place & Culture

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Factors Affecting the Social Exclusion of Eunuchs (Hijras) in Pakistan

Abstract: This study investigates the role of Sociological factors in exclusion of

Cited by 11 publications

References 4 publications

Challenges faced by marginalized communities such as transgenders in Pakistan

Challenges faced by marginalized communities such as transgenders in Pakistan

Fleeing Gender: Reasons for Displacement in Pakistan’s Transgender Community

Human-nonhuman home: bioregional cosmopolitan exploration of intersex identity in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

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