RESEARCH PRESENTETION
ON
MARGINALIZATION OF THE MARGINALIZED : A STUDY OF THIRD GENDER IN ASSAM
GROUP NAME-FIGHTERS FOR RECOGNITION
PRESENTED BY-
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· Meaning of Third Gender- Third gender is a person having both the characteristics of man and woman. Third gender people who are born male feel they should be female and who are born female feel they should be male.
· Third gender is one of the most marginalized sections of Assamese society. The term “third gender” mainly has been used to describe Hijras in Assam.They are suffered from series ofdiscriminations, deprivations and disorders in the absence of suitable protective and promotional measures.
· Third genders are subjected to unfair treatments like verbal abuse, physical and sexual violence, victimization in family, educational institutes, workplace, healthcare and public places. They are victims of discrimination by their won parents and siblings, neighbours and friends..
The study aims understanding the socio-economic background of the marginalized section of third gender.
To examine the problems of the third gender.
To analyze the welfare policy and schemes provided by Assm government for development of third gender.
THEORY AND METHODS
QUEER THEORY— Queer theory is a field of post-structuralize critical theory which Emerged in the early 1990’s out of the fields of queer studies and women’s Studies. Queer theory focuses on mismatches between sex, gender and desire. It provides scholars activists and others with ways of thinking and talking about identity beyond simple binaries, especially in fighting homophobia and transphobia.
METHODS
1.Secondary data analysis—In the present study, “Marginalisation of Third Gender” in Assam, the secondary data were collected from various sources like e-books, journals, web articles, government records, newspaper, mostly by web searching etc.
2.Explanatory Research —In this study, “Marginalisation of Third Gender”, we are focusing on the main cause and effects of marginalisation of third gender. Therefore we can identify it as an explanatory research.
3.Non-participant observation—In our study about “Marginalisation of Third Gender”, we have to observe the problems, its causes and effects and discrimination towards third gender without participate with them actively.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
· One of the most outstanding literature on Hijras is “Neither man nor women: The Hijras of India” by Nanda Serena highlighting the roles of Hijras in association with mother goddess so as to embrace feminism in attaining a special and spiritual figure within the society. In addition, it also provides us a deep understanding of who they are and how they wish to identify themselves, giving a clear conception about difference between Trans-man and trans-women.
· Another literature presented by Tissy Mariam Thomas, “Monograph on clan culture of Hijras”, is a beautiful piece of work illustrating the formation of Hijras identity in Bangalore within outside and inside of Gharanas with concern to social, political, economic and cultural barriers. He also stresses on need of creating awareness on Hijras towards hostility and intolerance prospective from the main stream.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF THIRD GENDER
· The third gender have faced verbal and physical abuse, experienceed domestic violence because of their third gender identity. They become the victim of sexual harassment, molestation and trafficking.
· They have faced denial and aggression right from their family. Families do not accept their child behaviour which is inappropriate according to the gender role they play in society. This community does not get inheritance in their family property.
· They feel isolated from their family and sometimes decide to run away from their families under painful and humiliating situations.
THE PROBLEMS OF THE THIRD GENDER
1.Social Problem—The third gender have generally faced verbal and physical abuse, isolation and rejection which is made them a marginalized community of society. Even, their family members do not support and accept them.
2. Economic Problem—Many of third genders are not educated, for that they face problem in getting job. Therefore, some of them are become sex workers, bar dancers, beggars for livelihood.
3.Health Problem—Some third gender usually suffer from AIDS and STD. But primary health centers , hospitals do not gives any attention of their health problems and even they do not have adequate knowledge about their health issues.
4.Educational problem—Education is regularly denied to third gender people. If someone has opportunity to study but unfortunately they face high level of stigma and discrimination in educational institutes leading to most of them dropping out of their studies.
5.Political Problem—Third gender do not get adequate social recognition for participate election in Assam. Even, they did not get voting rights to cast their votes as the task of issuing them the voter identification card got caught in the question of gender.
WALFARE OF THIRD GENDER
· The Transgender Bill 2019:The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act,2019 is an act of the Parliament of India with the objective to provide for protection of rights of transgender people, their welfare, and other related matters. 2019 bill recognizes their rights which are as Rights to education, recognition of identity, , Right to get employed , Right to get medical aid etc.
· A State Level Transgender Welfare/Justice Board shall be constituted comprising following members to monitor and oversee the implementation of the schemes adopted for Transgender community in Assam.
· “ All Assam Trans-gender’s Association” founded by Swati Bidhan Baruah, the first transgender judge of National Lok Adalat in Assam.
· Assam has become the first state in the country to include a ‘transgender’ option in the gender category of the civil service examination form in 2020.
· Third genders are able to rising and succeeding in gaining political power. The 503 third gender voters are to cast their votes in the first phase of the parliamentary election slated for April 11,2019.
CONCLUSION
· The third gender of Assam are marginalized from the mainstream of society. They are discriminated from education, medical facilities, political activities, applying in jobs because of their unrecognition gender.
· The Assam government and NGO have provided some policy and schemes to protect them from social exclusion. It is also necessary to government should give them equal rights and recognise their identity immediately.
· Along with people should remove their negative attitude towards third gender, so that they could have a normal life like others.
THANK YOU
