Pakistan, a culturally,
religiously, and historically male dominant, patriarchal country has just about
now come to identify the third gender – transgender – officially by the state.
We are now one of the only eleven states that has another option for gender
choice on the national identity card. Social right groups and activist
communities are also coming up with stronger and bolder voices and initiatives
to acquire social justice, education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and
equal rights as any male or female citizen of the country. We are still;
however, a long way separated from achieving much of what we have set out to
accomplish.
‘Transgender’ is an umbrella term we use for the non-stereotypical male and
female sexes. It includes, but is not limited to, transvestites, transsexuals,
agender, butch, femme, hijra, khwaja sera, trans feminine, or trans masculine.
The limited knowledge about their life and our sketchy insight of the nuances,
struggles, and hindrances they suffer through every day for basic survival in
our busy metropolis is a major obstacle in changing the way people perceive them
and what we, as a society, can do for them. As such, the first and most crucial
step is to change the mindset. To not only consider, but, also, believe them to
be our equals. To not only protect them from taunts and jeering, relentless
discrimination and humiliation, but do over the society that they no longer need
our protection.
Activist groups such as Trans Action and Gender Interactive Alliance are
persistently working towards informing people of the plight of their
communities, but a much greater support is needed from the society at large. We
have achieved voting rights and some levels of acceptance in various educational
and vocational sectors, but the vast majority of schools, colleges, companies,
and organizations still discriminate against them or perhaps feel too ashamed of
hiring beyond their conventional standards. These ‘standards’ need to be
redefined. An education in accepting our gender identities, those that exist in
the world, and to be whole-heartedly accepting of others around us is an
important step we must take towards the realization of that purpose. Some argue
that it might be too late for most people to change because of institutionalized
beliefs that have taken deep root, but then we can educate, shape, and influence
the young mind, no? Some hope lies therein.
Educating the young does not mean we cannot do anything about the adults of our
society. We have recently seen feminist groups and artists reclaiming public
spaces. Such groups are accepting of all people, with their eccentricities and
idiosyncrasies, with different gender, sexual, religious, political, and social
identities. The whole idea is to accept and understand people irrespective of
various social bounds. Acceptance and affection has been tested and it is a
proven way of breaching through walls of ego, hatred, and prejudice. Why not,
then, include the transgender community in our schools and colleges, companies
and organizations, in our friend circles? They are a limb that’s hurting and we
have been inflicting wound upon wound for decades. Let us remedy the injuries,
heal the wounds, perhaps then we can provide some comfort to the social body of
our society. We need a concentrated effort in providing safety, protection,
love, and opportunity to the transgender community so they may grow as
individuals.