World is abounded with third sex i.e. transgender or eunuchs or hijras. But many people don’t know the difference between these two; rather they are unaware of the facts. Let’s reach into the tunnel of science and dig out the major difference between transgender and hijras.

Who is Transgender?

Transgender people may be considered as homosexual, bisexual, pan-sexual, asexual or poly sexual. It cannot only apply to a certain form of certain orientation. When we go through its definitions there are many of the definitions, in which one states that “people who are assigned with a sex at the time of the birth and based on the genitals, but they usually believe that something is wrong with their identity”

Transgender people have gender expression that differs from their sex assigned at birth. Some transgender people who need medical assistance to transit from on sexual identity to another are called as transsexual. Transgender is independent of sexual orientation. They identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or asexual.

Who are Hijras?

Considering Hijras; it is firstly a south Asian term. Hijras are the males who have feminine gender identity, and it is basically a description or a belief of South-Asian culture. They adopt feminine gender roles and mostly appear in the attire of females. In this sex, inter sex people are also involved. Here, it is the state of ambivalence; it is not certain whether they are males or females. They are known by different names in the Indian subcontinent. They are known as aravani, aruvani, jagappa, chhakka or kinner. The Hijras community is seeking their identity on the behalf of their own eunuch’s government.

They are now a called as ‘third sex or gender’. There is a religious act named “Nirwaan” that is adopted by many Hijras at the stage of beginning. This includes the eradication of cutting off the male organ.

Transgender vs. Hijras

Let’s now study in detail the difference between these two:

What medical science says?

As far as the transgender is concerned, it is a state where a person identifies oneself by gender orientation and not as a member of a community. On the other hand, Hijras who has physiological feminine gender identity and mostly appear in the female’s attire.

What kind of people are involved in these two identities?

When it comes to the transgender, people who do not identify exclusively with the gender, they are the cross dressers. It includes pre-operatives and post-operatives and non-operative transsexuals who generally feel that they are born into the wrong physical body. There is also a notion of those who feel that they are not suitable for the social expectations. Intersex people are also involved in it.

On the other hand, when it comes to the Hijras, it involves only Males; they particularly don’t have any sex orientation. In fact, more specifically they challenge the sexual orientations and considers them a new gender- ‘the third gender’.

Under which tendencies they can come?

Transgender can come under any sexual orientations like:

Heterosexual

Homosexual

Bisexual

Pansexual

Poly-sexual

Asexual

And sometimes both the genders

On the other hand, Hijras comes under males. In this tendency, inter-sexual mostly comes.

Problems faced by transgender and hijras:

Transgender and hijras face the problem of transgender congruence i.e. they find difficult to feel genuine, authentic and comfortable in their external appearances and accept their genuine identity. They go through gender dysphoria. If provided, they need to seek hormone replacement therapy, sex reassignment surgery or psychotherapy. But not all transgender desire for these treatments. Some are comfortable and in harmony with their gender identities and roles.

How discrimination can knock their door?

Transgender people who are transiting may be vulnerable to discrimination. Transgender and hijras have to go through discrimination at workplace, educational institutes, public places and healthcare. Although strict laws are made to protect the rights of ‘the third gender‘, yet some governments and some anti-social groups do not acknowledge their existence and call their identity as psychological illness. There is also an important point to be noted down that they will have a strong need for the support of family and friends. On the other hand, Hijras face discrimination in the society. However, there is also a respect for them, if you are passing by a market and Hijras instantly comes and beg for money you give alms for the sake of religious purpose. Because their curse is not considered as a good omen, rather it can hurt you.

When it comes to the transgender, there is no particular sexual or gender orientation. In short, according to the biologists and socialists they can have sexual relations of their desire. Generally, sexual relationships are mostly carried out with an original gender of the person. For example, a transgender can transformed into a male and also can be transformed in to female so that he or she can have relation with the opposite sex.

Is there any legalization for them?

Transformation of transgender people is legalized in many countries but still there are a number of countries that don’t allow transformation of genders. There are no laws made for legalization of the Hijras community. However, there are constant efforts made by many Hijras activists for official recognition for themselves as a third gender. The day to day efforts are made for them so that they will no longer fight for their own identity.What is your opinion about them?