Recently, I came across a mind-blogging article on one of the most spurned aspects of our parochial society. I never hesitate in using the ‘parochial’. As I keep dwelling on the various facets, which constitute our society, my perceptions on the partiality, the incessant dissimilarities and the sprawling effects of the ever-growing acrimony against the genders exacerbate.
It is about time that we realize that there definitely does exist a third gender. We, lamentably, agree to neglect the existence of the third gender. We openly deny that they are a part of the society too. We turn our eyes away. We negate their presence. We simply fail to understand that they are as human as we are. We believe that they do not deserve what we, rightfully, do. Hence, we fail at being the so-called liberal, progressive, educated and responsible citizens of our country.
What surprises me is how we have confined ourselves while classifying people into two main categories of gender; male and female. This has, undeniably, led into an overwhelming sense of insensitivity towards those who unfortunately don’t lie in either of these. According to a survey conducted, 60 per cent did not want to be friends, or be in an office or study place with them.
They are the third gender or Transgender beings. They are those who may come up to you simply to give you blessings. They are those who are deprived of their identity. Possessing a CNIC doesn’t necessarily mean that existence is being cherished. They are the ones who you would simply run away from. Because, in our Pakistani society, they are just not normal. All apprehensions aside, we stay ruthless towards them just because they don’t look like us. They are different.
Being different cannot deprive you of your rights. As bitter as it sounds, they are not recognized. Not only they are victimized to this striking bigotry, they are also way below in the socio-economic ladder. I believe that the provision of the rights is a secondary step. The major concern should be the recognition.
The belief that their lives aren’t any easier than ours and that a social stigma has always been attached to their reality conveniently makes them the least privileged faction of the society. This thought is certainly substantiated by the public mockery, insensitivity and trepidation that inevitably follows.
We cannot boast about our so-called liberal and modern sense of the world unless we start taking pride in knowing more about these people. Trust me they are NOT aliens. What they are was definitely not THEIR choice to make. They have untold stories. They have melancholic tales to share. Most importantly they have a heart and feelings which make them as normal as they could possibly be. All they need is a listening ear and a smiling face to respond back to. Let’s accept them!
