HotForWords HELP!! What is a Eunuch??

This is a question directed at http://www.youtube.com/hotforwords

The term "eunuch" is used in India to refer to a very specific community. They're also often referred to as "hijra". I'm most definitely not the expert on it (thus the question).

So...HotForWords - can you help!??


Photos used are all from Flickr with Creative Commons license:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitneylauren/640636991/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitneylauren/645527756/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rahul3/2233987158/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• hotforwords
• eunuch
• hijra
• india
• transgender
• transvestite
• trans-sexual
• community
• south asia
• entymology
• meaning
• history

[edtomorrow]

It would seem for Indians to qualify as a eunuch its a born condition where as if you were just gay and transgender by choice you were not considered a full eunuch. But I guess they would be lumped in to that group on the fringes. Maybe theres a mental aspect thats considered when classifying some people. Perplexing.

But the girl in the white was very entertaining. Bet she'd be fun to be around.

Glad to see you doing well Phil!!! Keep it up man!!!

[TolokyoRAW]

@edtomorrow Well - that's about what I got out of this conversation as well, but you'll notice I consistently asked for their "perception" of the meaning of the word. I don't think either of them has a clear concept of the meaning...nor do they care, I think. As Pari said, our obsession with words is really amazing. For them it's all just toys to throw around and whatever falls is not really so important. :P

[iamtakingover]

eunuch in english is guys w/ no nuts

"hijira" is just the hindi word for transgendered.i don't know the word for "eunuch" in hindi

-yo im indian and this is the only as far as i know

[TolokyoRAW]

@iamtakingover So to you Hijra means transgendered (meaning someone who willingly chooses to change sex)? I think it's interesting that despite how prevalent eunuchs are in India, they're not well understood, it seems.

[maximum1]

Wow, the wheatish girl had so much to say I think she confused herself a few times. :) The girl on the other bed is a cutey. She had me at "circumlocution". :D

宜しく

[TolokyoRAW]

@maximum1 Hehe - that's pretty typical of Indian conversations...contradictions throughout run rampant, but nobody seems to care (as Pari points out near the end). Haha - I'll tell Archana she's got a fan. ^^

[anish2kasana]

nice dabate

[femmsit]

hahaa...nice debate...very interesting. that too with two pretty ladies. very funny.

[heomak]

what the girl in thee white salwar kameez said is so true about hijras generally ignoring women. i've never seen a hijra harass a woman(by constantly getting in their face and begging them to give them money like they do to men)..maybe it's a matter of pride cuz they see themselves as women and so, they don't wanna embarrass themselves by begging for money from another woman. they'd much rather ask a man( considering the fiercely patriarchal northern Indian culture).

[heomak]

@TolokyoRAW you should try and find a hijra community and interview them!!!!! being a foreigner, they're more likely to be open to you than say, a fellow-indian(because of the history of being discriminated )....i've heard that they are very secretive but i've seen a few documentaries on them where they're very open to talking to foreigners(cuz they see you guys as less likely to judge them). do it!!!

[heomak]

@TolokyoRAW hijras are basically men born with male genitalia but who at some point get a sex change surgery(change their male parts to female parts). hijras dress in women's clothes and identify more with the female gender. they usually earn their living dancing and singing at wedding parties & other types of celebrations(e.g. when a child is born). or some sell their bodies. i wouldn't call them eunuchs or transgendered cuz not all transgendered people have sex change surgery done!

[TubaBuddha]

I took a class on rural Islam and Hijra was a topic included. They are found both in Hindu and Muslim Community. In Islam there have been eunuchs, used to be attached to the Caliphs' Harem, or women's quarters within the Palace. Also I have found in a Class on Islam, Eunuchs were given posts managing The Two Mosques in Mecca and Medina till the 1920's, they had endowments to help widows and orphans in the city. They were also the elite military and magistrates in the Turkish Empire.

[thawthepast]

Right on~~~~!

[iphonekidsgames007]

tnx for the info :)

[Degenskonto]

@ToLokyo Ah, yeah, ofcourse I meant the "Enuchs". Basically men with lipstick.

Yeah I guess words evolve through misconceptions or by traits from which country they come frome... For instance I've heard that an all-you-can-eat-buffé in Japan is called a Viking? Doesnt make much sense either :P I guess someone has seen a picture of a smörgåsbord or something.

[ToLokyo]

@Degenskonto O.o I thought you were talking about my friends at first. :P You meant the pictures of Eunuchs, right? Actually there are some much prettier ones, but those were the only royalty-free pictures I could find online...

Yeah - that's the definition I've always known. I wonder how it has evolved like this.