Hijra Culture in Pakistan
In Pakistan, a conservative patriarchal society, Hijras -transgender women- are severely discriminated. Hijras can be met at rural melas (festivals) where they sometimes get raped. They live in communities which protect them. They don’t lead the same life as other Pakistani citizens. Despite those challenging conditions, Hijras mostly look happy, are ready to dance and have fun, can be provocative… but at the same time, they are always careful as they ought to be. Hijra Culture is a shelter for transgender women in Pakistan. When one leaves home, family, and relations, a replacement is required as necessity for one’s own existence. Hijra Culture acts just like a parent helping their children to stand on their own feet: a Guru (Guardian) will help to find the daily bread, the essential of life, it is a trustworthy system for survival. An older transgender woman usually becomes a Guru, which means that she is guardian and caretaker to several young Hijras. History repeats itself, it’s time to pay back to the Hijra culture: in the way she was adopted in her young age by an elderly Guru who gave her shelter and protection, she – now a Guru herself – shall be giving the same affection to the younger generations of transwomen. The most common thing in all transgender women across the world is that they are or were associated with sex work. That is the easy way to earn money, especially for transgender people since they are discriminated against in every profession in Pakistan except when it comes to prostitution. Sex work is an extremely risky business in Pakistan. Transgenders acquired a protection law in 2018. By the Pakistani constitution, they are equal citizens, though the Transgender Protection Act 2018 hasn’t been implemented yet. Everyone is struggling for survival. Rape cases against transgender people are addressed through an irrelevant law which is unfair and needs immediate amendment.
Size: 4952px × 3301px
Location: Punjab, Pakistan
Photo credit: © François-Olivier Dommergues / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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