She The Universe Has Spoken

Albania: Traditional Law converts Girls into Boys

In the most far away villages of Albania, back up in the mountains if a family has either no father, son or heir, then the young daughter will foresake her girlhood and become a boy/man.  Why?  In order to help support the family.  It's this cultures Traditional Law.

The decision for this to happen is made either by the girl child or parents.  From this point on she will no longer identify as a female.  Feminity is suppressed and masculity replaced with.  She dresses like a boy, takes on masculine traits and changes her name.  Most of her contact is with the male gender.  Her environment includes very few women.

The girl/woman does labor which is conventionally preformed by a man.  For she is now the head of household and may carry a weapon.  And there are some very high prices to be paid.  Outside of the most obvious relinquishing her gender as a female, but she will never date, marry or bear children.  A vow of celibacy is taken.  A small ceremony is held absent of any women, whereby she's now a 'Sworn Virgin'.  And, a man for life.  At no time are they permitted to revert back to womanhood.

Yet, a certain delight is found in these young women ridding themselves of their born gender.  It's a means of escaping pre-arranged marriages.  A ticket to freedom.  Wow!  Most had their husbands hand picked and chosen immediately after birth.  Their fathers had promised them to someone.

A gender change is not by any means looked upon as a form of homosexuality.  Homosexuality is considered a sin and would have landed you in prison, until the year 1995.  It's considered a honor to the father and family. "There is no better gift than the respect of one's father."   

I respect all cultures and their beliefs, along with their form of wordship .  Although, it doesn't prevent me from trying to grasp the true meaning or understanding, as to how or why.

It appears, very acceptable an encouraged for you to denounce the gender which you were born, If it's for the purpose of monetary gain and futher advancement of status, your families social ranking. As in case in point with MEXICO: Muxes, Gay Men or Third Gender.  Little boys gave up their male gender to become little girls/women, for the purpose of taking care of their mothers for a lifetime.  They were often nurtured and guided into this.  A family with a Muxe gained a higher social standing.

It's not a sin or frowned upon.  Yet, if for some reason this becomes a personal choice or maybe I should say biologically determined, then it's a sin.

Read more at Guardian Unlimited, interviews by the men who were once young girls.

            

   

MEXICO: Muxes, Gay Men or Third Gender?

There is a place where girls and women are more highly valued, than boys or men.  Now, isn't that a twist?

Even though, the United States is miles apart from this land we are very similar in ways of our thoughts and culture.  However, there's a vast difference in our process of thinking.

In Juchitan Mexico with an estimated population around 67,000, much smaller than most of the cities. A boy isn't necessarily looked upon with demeaning qualities if he is what the United States would call 'gay' or a 'cross-dresser.   

Muxes means gay men but translates culturally as a third gender.  A muxe has one major dissimilarity to the the gay male in the United States.  They're raised to forsake their masculinity and encouraged to embrace the femininity of a woman, a girl.  Playing with dolls and dressing as girls is orchestrated by their mothers.  Two reasons why, one is to increase future economic growth for their family.

A family which has a muxe is considered one of the elite.  They earn higher wages.  Mostly by designing dresses gowns and blouses.  Their creative talents are sought out for the towns many parades and festivals.  Several times per week Juchitan holds one of these events.  Secondly, seeing as the muxes income far exceeds that of the father and his sisters the mother grooms her son in order to have herself provided for through out life.  He's to remain in her household.

Muxes very seldom have intimate relations with men, even though they're dressing and living life as  women.  A rites of passage ceremony happens at a certain age.  Whereby it's confirmed an announced to the community by taking on a woman's name.  This event is a marked celebration by a huge gathering of people of all ages.  A 'coming-out' party, so-to-speak.

Many of Juchitan's people believe being a muxe is biological, while others feel it's due to their environment.  Sort of like the United States argument at hand.  Their belief it's environmental stems from the fact, that mothers are wanting a muxe so it is nurtured and cultivated by them.  What can you expect they say, when a young impressionable boy grows up dressing as a girl?  The opposing view, feels it must be predetermined and genetic why else would the boy child take to this?  Plus, continue this path as a grown man.

It may or may not matter, what the reason being is for some here in the United States.  Alot of argument could be brought forth on this subject.  One thing is for sure we LGBT people aren't embraced nor given a celebration or party by the heterosexual world, which includes family friends or society when we decide to live our lives, being that which we are.  Coming Out, normally means heartache and loss. 

               

Gaycism and Homophobia

Well I learned a new word today and I must give this credit to Transcending Gender. 

The new word is 'gaycism.'  It's just another expression or phrase for homophobia.

A remark that symbolizes we're still dealing with prejudices and hatred.

I wonder how long it will take to find it's way into Webster?