Third Gender

In my childhood whenever I saw eunuchs I would not understand why people looked down upon them or why they behave differently.  To me they look human, but dressing up differently and behaving in a peculiar way to extract money from people.  I could not understand the difference between the male, female and third gender.  As a child I was bothered why eunuchs are abandoned by parents and had to live in separate groups.  It would surprise me that parental love failed to accept the deviation in their children and support them to become better individuals. 

As a person with medical knowledge I always felt sorry for ‘hijras’ segregated from the society and becoming objects of ridicule. Various genetic and physical disorders are accepted as disease or deviation and persons are accepted in the mainstream life.  It is pathetic and inhuman that the genetic and physical variation resulting intersex individuals is not acceptable to the society.  Sex or gender identification depends mainly on

-         genetic structure of the individual

-         internal and external reproductive structure

-         hormonal conditions

-         social upbringing and gender role

The normal male genetic composition is 46XY, and female is 46XX. XX and XY are sex chromosomes which determine the sex of the individual. The development of male internal and external organs is active and depends on the presence of ‘Y’ chromosome in the genetic structure.  The absence of ‘Y’ leads to development of female external and internal organs.  In female the presence of 2^nd ‘X’ is essential for maintenance of ovaries.  A person with single X without Y or another X chromosome may apparently look like a female but will not have functioning ovaries and secondary sexual characters fail to develop in them.  These people are generally accepted as female and can lead a normal female life but will not able to reproduce.  Moreover, presence of X is linked to intelligence and absence of one X may become a cause for decreased intelligence. 

Because of genetic abnormalities the development of external genital organs may become impaired.  Sometimes due to congenital hormonal imbalance or certain drugs used by the pregnant woman can result in development of ambiguous external genital organs.  It may be obvious at the time of birth, sometimes later in life.  These persons are termed as intersex or hermaphrodites.  A true hermaphrodite will have ovaries (female gonads) and testes (male gonads).  True hermaphrodites are generally brought up as males.  But by puberty they may develop breasts and also start menstruating.  Depending on the choice of individual and social brought up, the person can change to either a complete male or female by the removal of ovaries or testes.  Based on this if there is any correctable abnormality of external genital organs is corrected by appropriate surgical procedure. 

Transgenders will be mostly of pseudo male or pseudo female hermaphrodites, depending on their genetic composition.  Person having XX will possess ovaries, but the external genitalia resemble more like a male due to hormonal imbalance.  In these person after correction of hormones, and necessary surgical treatment will make the person a female.  Persons having XY genetic composition having testes, but the body tissues not responding to testosterone hormone appropriately will not develop male genital organs and in some extreme cases may develop external female genital organs.  In these persons the gonads are removed and hormone supplementation is given and surgical correction to female genitalia is done. 

The variations in genetic composition of the individual are the cause for ‘normal’ male or female appearance to deviation on either side of gender can occur.  Like any other genetic abnormalities this gender deviation should also be considered as a variation in characteristics of human spectrum.  Transgenders or intersex persons must be considered as normal human beings and all rights, all human rights, bestowed by the constitution will be applicable to them.  The recognition of eunuchs as third gender by Supreme Court and passing  verdict on 15^th of this month has paved way for better future of ‘hijras’.   

I hope the society will understand the transgenders/intersex/eunuchs are part of human race and let them live a dignified life.  As soon as a child is born with ambiguous genitalia, a detailed investigation is carried and child is brought up as male or female depending on the genetic/gonadal and apparent external genital appearance.

The verdict of Supreme Court should make the government to take steps to bring them into mainstream with education and employment and help them live a dignified life.

Social upbringing and gender role is a psychological factor which may make a person feel a male or female.  Genetic, physical appearance and hormonal status is clearly defined in these individuals.  But psychologically they may feel different and may have different sexual orientation.  They do not come under intersex or transgenders and their problems are different.  They too should be respected as long as their orientation is not inhuman or against the principles of human rights.