Yesterday we got our first taste into the lives and stories of the people of Chennai. Went to some of the potential organizations where we will be able to do our field placement. The first one was located in a village area within Chennai called Family Life Institute (FLI). FLI is a facility that offers school for children K-5, health care, sewing classes, empowerment groups, and outreach. While we were there to learn about the organization we had the opportunity to play with the kids. We taught them how to play duck duck goose and had a blast running around with them.
Anu took some phenomenal pictures on my camera...... AND THEN I REALIZED THAT THE MEMORY STICK WAS NOT IN MY CAMERA & MY CABLE TO MY CAMERA IS AT HOME.
Sooo... I'll have to post those sometime in the future. For now the majority of the pictures from this post are from Laura's camera.
Anyways, the second organization we visited was called Indian Community Welfare Organization (ICWO). They work with the LGBT community, AIDS/HIV prevention, and the homeless within Chennai. We listened to presentations on all of the outreach programs they have been doing and learned so much. This organization is so amazing. I am going to do a separate post on issues of homelessness in Chennai because there is so much to say, but I NEED to talk about transgenders in Chennai.
Being a transgender in Chennai is a very stigmatizing thing, just as a it is in the US. Something I found crazy interesting is what the term transgender means within the Indian context. To me, transgender means a male who identifies themselves as a female or a female who identifies themselves as a man. Apparently, the term transgender only refers to a male who believes they are a female. A female who wants to dress like a male or identifies with being a male is just a lesbian. The logic is incredibly frustrating. Being a transgender is much more acceptable in Indian culture compared to being a lesbian.
After talking with ICWO we had the opportunity to go with one of the transgenders to Marina Beach. Marina Beach is one of the longest beaches in the world and just so happens to be located in Chennai. Transgenders who work in the sex industry gather at this beach in order to pick up clients. We met up with a bunch of other transgenders and got to hear their stories about how they got into the industry.
The one thing that blew my mind is the way that transgenders are treated. Yes, there is a huge stigma about being a transgender but there are HUGE contradictions. While talking to these transgenders, people would come up to them and pay them for a blessing. The transgenders would place their hands on each member of the families head and say a pray for them. WHAT!?
In Hinduism, there is a strong tradition that gods are considered to be both male and female. This would put transgenders at a "God like status" Yet, being a transgender is frowned upon? I'm not sure if I understand this culture at all. India is full of contradictions and this is one of the many examples.
Today was not nearly as thought provoking. Unless you consider spending hours at immigration as being fascinating. We did get to check out Express Avenue, the biggest mall in Chennai. Two more Kurtas were purchased along with some comfort foods. Pad Thai was consumed. It was a good day.
Tomorrow we will be touring another organization with about 15 other students from Florida. Then we will be hitting up immigration (yet again) to pick up some very important paper that we must guard with our lives. Apparently we cannot leave India without this paper. Knock on wood that I don't loose it.
Sending my love,
Becca
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| The children at their daily assembly |
Anu took some phenomenal pictures on my camera...... AND THEN I REALIZED THAT THE MEMORY STICK WAS NOT IN MY CAMERA & MY CABLE TO MY CAMERA IS AT HOME.
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| Woman learning to sew at the Family Life Institution |
Anyways, the second organization we visited was called Indian Community Welfare Organization (ICWO). They work with the LGBT community, AIDS/HIV prevention, and the homeless within Chennai. We listened to presentations on all of the outreach programs they have been doing and learned so much. This organization is so amazing. I am going to do a separate post on issues of homelessness in Chennai because there is so much to say, but I NEED to talk about transgenders in Chennai.
Being a transgender in Chennai is a very stigmatizing thing, just as a it is in the US. Something I found crazy interesting is what the term transgender means within the Indian context. To me, transgender means a male who identifies themselves as a female or a female who identifies themselves as a man. Apparently, the term transgender only refers to a male who believes they are a female. A female who wants to dress like a male or identifies with being a male is just a lesbian. The logic is incredibly frustrating. Being a transgender is much more acceptable in Indian culture compared to being a lesbian.
After talking with ICWO we had the opportunity to go with one of the transgenders to Marina Beach. Marina Beach is one of the longest beaches in the world and just so happens to be located in Chennai. Transgenders who work in the sex industry gather at this beach in order to pick up clients. We met up with a bunch of other transgenders and got to hear their stories about how they got into the industry.
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| Marina Beach |
In Hinduism, there is a strong tradition that gods are considered to be both male and female. This would put transgenders at a "God like status" Yet, being a transgender is frowned upon? I'm not sure if I understand this culture at all. India is full of contradictions and this is one of the many examples.
Today was not nearly as thought provoking. Unless you consider spending hours at immigration as being fascinating. We did get to check out Express Avenue, the biggest mall in Chennai. Two more Kurtas were purchased along with some comfort foods. Pad Thai was consumed. It was a good day.
Tomorrow we will be touring another organization with about 15 other students from Florida. Then we will be hitting up immigration (yet again) to pick up some very important paper that we must guard with our lives. Apparently we cannot leave India without this paper. Knock on wood that I don't loose it.
Sending my love,
Becca
Bec Bec, in my women's studies career I have found that there are many ways to classify gender identification: transgender (someone who believes and identifies as the opposite gender they were born) vs. transvestite (someone who dresses like the opposite gender) vs. transsexual (someone who has undergone surgery to match their psychological gender) vs. bisexual vs. queer vs. intersexual vs. thirdgender vs. homosexual-gets really complicated. So interesting to hear Indian perspective on that!
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