What is Hijra (South Asia)?
[[Image:Hijra Protest Islamabad.jpg|thumb|200px|A thriving community of ''hijras'' and transsexual people cross-dressed as females protest in [[Islamabad]].]] In the [[culture]] of [[South Asia]], '''hijras''' are people who were born male who have a [[feminine]] [[gender identity]] and wear women's clothing. Hijras do not feel male or female. There are hijras in [[India]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Bangladesh]]. The word 'hijra' is often [[translated]] into 'eunuch' or 'hermaphrodite'. Some hijras are eunuchs or hermaphrodites. Many are not. ==Social status== Hijras are [[discriminated]] against a lot. Many hijras do [[sex work]] because people will not give them jobs. Since November 2013, hijras in [[Bangladesh]] have been allowed to choose 'hijra' as a [[gender]] on their passports. Before this they had to choose 'male' or 'female'. Hijras have their own language called [[Hijra Farsi]]. It is also known as Koti.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-07/india/42793159_1_secret-language-urdu-alliance-india |title=Hijra Farsi: Secret language knits community - Times of India |access-date=2013-12-13 |archive-date=2013-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011113341/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-07/india/42793159_1_secret-language-urdu-alliance-india |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2000, Shabnam Mausi was the first hijra to be elected into Indian [[parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ajmn.tv/26tav|title=India's 'third gender': A marginalised social class|last=webmaster|date=17 October 2013|website=The Stream - Al Jazeera English}}{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{Asia-stub}} [[Category:South Asia]] [[Category:Transgender]]