Question

What is the significance of the Navaho third gender category? And, what does berdache mean?

Answer 1

Navajo is basically a tribe. It is related with North American region. Native people of New Mexico and Arizona are parts of this tribe. Generally in society we have two genders i.e. male and female. In Navajo tribe, there are four genders i.e. man, woman, masculine female and feminine male.

This tribe accepts four genders because they have a faith in true expression. If someone thinks that his/her gender is not reflecting his/her true personality characteristics then this aspect may create a stressful situation. It may cause extreme level of distress.

It generates a state of depression. Anxiety also becomes dominant and it may lead to various health complications. All these situations of restlessness can be avoided by providing consent and social acceptance to different different genders.

It also enables a person to focus more on his/her skills rather than to think about his/her body and gestures. Berdache is term which explains the actions through which a person prefers to wear dresses of opposite gender. Person also assumes himself/herself in a social status of opposite gender.

When a male dresses like a female then it is an example of Berdache. Again, it is a method through which a person tries to express his/her true identity. It provides him/her a mental peace because he/she thinks that his/her body does not reflect his/her true personality. It makes his/her expressions more effective.