Unzipping Gender: Sex, Cross-Dressing and CultureHow does culture shape notions of sexuality and gender? Why are transvestites in the West so often seen as deviant or perverse, while they are accepted in other societies? What are the implications for the categories of male and female when considering transvestism? Transvestism, and its cultural practice, is a useful lens through which we can view and thus debate models of sex, gender and sexuality. Drawing on primary fieldwork, Unzipping Gender offers a cross-cultural study of transvestism through an examination of transvestites in Britain and the Hijras of India. The author tackles the critical question of whether or not transvestism is motivated primarily by sex or gender, and she challenges the straightforward binary divide that dominates Western theories of gender. Taking into account the importance of material culture, she also pays close attention to the detail of dress and considers the artefactual nature of the construction of the self through clothing. Highlighting the differences between the two groups and drawing on further cross-cultural perspectives, Suthrell illustrates the social construction of sex and gender. She considers the roles that emotion, mythology, imagery and belief systems play in influencing ideas about sex and gender in different cultures. Since sex and gender must inevitably be intertwined, Suthrell argues for a more sophisticated response to the complex practice of transvestism. In order to gain a deeper understanding of sex and gender issues, it is imperative to examine the underlying social and symbolic structures. This unique study across cultures leads the way. |
Contents
3 | 28 |
the Hijras of India | 75 |
The Changing Position of Hijras in Indian Public | 107 |
Copyright | |
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anthropology arguably Beaumont Society behaviour berdache binary binary divide biological body born boys Britain ceremony Chand Chapter choice clearly colours concepts construction context contrast cross cross-cultural cross-dressing crucial demonstrate described desire discourses dress eunuchs example explored feel female clothing feminine fieldwork film gagra gender and sexuality girl guru hijras Hindu Hinduism homosexual Iatmul identity ideologies India individual interesting intersexuality interviewed issues of sex Jaipur Janett Scott live look make-up male and female masculine material culture mother Mumbai Muslim Nanda Naven notions opposite sex particularly perceived perhaps person personhood perspective position possible question questionnaire Rajasthan Ramdhan realised regarding relationships religious retired ritual role salwar kameez sex and gender Shabana Siva skirts social style suggest surgery third gender thought tion trans transgendered transsexuals transvestism travestis two-spirit UK transvestites vestites wear Western societies whilst woman women women's clothes Xanith