Third gender

A third gender is a social identity for people who are neither men nor women. Most modern Western cultures use a gender binary. This system divides people into two categories based on biological sex assigned at birth. However, many societies recognize three or more genders. The term "third" usually means "other," but some cultures recognize fourth or even fifth genders.

This identity is often defined by a person's gender identity and their specific role within their culture.

Gender roles function differently depending on the social system. In some non-Western cultures, gender is not a strict binary. People might move freely between male and female roles. Others might exist in an intermediate state.

In Hawaii, this intermediate state is called "gender liminality." This concept is part of a wider spectrum. In the Southwestern United States, the traditional Dineh people recognize a spectrum of four genders. These include feminine women, masculine women, feminine men, and masculine men.

Many third gender identities are tied to spiritual or ceremonial duties. In some Indigenous North American traditions, these people are called Two-Spirit. This term reflects their specific spiritual and Indigenous contexts. In other places, being a third gender is seen as a gift. These individuals might mediate between the human world and the spirit world.

In South Asia, the hijras are a well-known third gender group. In Polynesia, the fa'afafine hold a distinct role. In the Balkans, there are people known as sworn virgins. Some African communities recognize a "female husband" who holds the privileges of a man.

History shows how these concepts have been studied and debated. Since the 1970s, anthropologists have used these terms to describe cultures that a two-gender framework could not explain. In the 1860s, the term "third sex" began appearing in English. An activist named Karl Heinrich Ulrichs used the German word "Urning." He was a pioneer who argued that same-sex attraction was natural.

He believed these identities should not be criminalized. Later, in 1969, the word "homosexual" appeared in an anonymous pamphlet.

Western views on gender have shifted significantly over time. For many years, Western medical systems labeled people who did not conform to traditional roles as "disordered." However, a major change occurred in 2013. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders updated its rules. It replaced the label of being "disordered" with a new diagnosis called "gender dysphoria." This term focuses on the distress a person feels rather than labeling their identity as a sickness.

Research has found interesting patterns in how people experience these identities. In a study by Ingrid M. Sell, she looked at people in the United States who identified as a third gender. She found that many felt different from the age of five. Nearly half of those interviewed worked as healers or in medical professions. Many were also artists.

Sell also noted that 93% of her interviewees reported "paranormal" type abilities. This mirrored patterns seen in Eastern third gender groups.

Modern legal systems are also beginning to change. Some Western societies now recognize non-binary or genderqueer identities. In 2016, an Oregon court ruled that a resident could legally change their gender to non-binary.

Organizations like the Open Society Foundations have documented progressive laws globally. These laws help people change their gender identity on official documents. However, scholars warn against misinterpreting ancient traditions. They argue that Westerners sometimes try to force ancient identities into modern ideas of sexual orientation. This can change the original meaning of cultures like the Samoan fa'afafine.