The Hijra Community and its Relationship with Society: A Study of Identity Construction

Abstract

This research paper explores the construction of the Hijra identity by examining the various pivotal points that shape their lives, including religion, government, media, and personal experiences. Using interpretivism, I conducted open-ended, structured interviews with participants in two phases and physical spaces. Drawing on the works of scholars such as Gayatri Reddy, Serena Nanda, and ArjunAppaduri, among others, I found that a traumatic childhood often correlates with joining the community rather than a fully chosen lifestyle. Furthermore, a lack of education exacerbates the gap between the Hijra community and mainstream society. An important aspect of this research is to examine the impact of the 2006 formal recognition of the Hijra community by the government and the process involved in establishing this law. Overall, this study sheds light on the complex and multi-faceted nature of the Hijra identity and its relationship with various institutions and societal factors.