Every culture has it’s own standards of what is socially accepted and what is not. They are gender variance in every culture. Customs and traditions differ around the world however, almost every culture shares the concept of gender and some cultures recognize that they are more than two genders. In Indonesia an Islamic society the Bugis people are the largest ethnic group. They have three concepts of sex which are male, female, Bissu (intersex ). In addition, they are five genders men, women, Calalbai (born biologically male identify as female identity), Calalai (born biologically female identify as male gender identity) and Bissu( they either identify with all genders or gender neutral). The Bugis people challenge gender norms. Sexuality
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It is very interesting how there is lack of representation and portrayal of the Bugis community in western civilization. In Sharyn Graham article” Negotiating Gender: Calalai in Bugis Society “ she states that calalia have a advantage of having a female body while portraying female masculinity. For example, they are much freer and if they have a girlfriend they are allowed go everywhere together but if they were a man the first thing is they would have to get married. She also states in Islam siri means shame they are clear consequences for women who do not conform to heterosexually marriage and child bearing, they may bring shame upon their family. She goes on to say that there is ambiguity with how the gender system works. It is flexible and acknowledges various gender identities however on the other hand; they are tough definitions of femininity and masculinity. For instance, being born female does not make one a women you have to follow norms of being a women (ex. not walking alone at night, marrying a man and bearing children etc). Graham states that a woman is considered of being her family’s siri . Women face a great deal of burden to ensure they do not cause siri. They are far less calalai because women are encouraged to get married and have their off spring carry on the family’s bloodline. A Woman who remains unmarried and without bearing children threatens the family siri. Very few women are willing to sacrifice their family’s
It is very interesting how there is lack of representation and portrayal of the Bugis community in western civilization. In Sharyn Graham article” Negotiating Gender: Calalai in Bugis Society “ she states that calalia have a advantage of having a female body while portraying female masculinity. For example, they are much freer and if they have a girlfriend they are allowed go everywhere together but if they were a man the first thing is they would have to get married. She also states in Islam siri means shame they are clear consequences for women who do not conform to heterosexually marriage and child bearing, they may bring shame upon their family. She goes on to say that there is ambiguity with how the gender system works. It is flexible and acknowledges various gender identities however on the other hand; they are tough definitions of femininity and masculinity. For instance, being born female does not make one a women you have to follow norms of being a women (ex. not walking alone at night, marrying a man and bearing children etc). Graham states that a woman is considered of being her family’s siri . Women face a great deal of burden to ensure they do not cause siri. They are far less calalai because women are encouraged to get married and have their off spring carry on the family’s bloodline. A Woman who remains unmarried and without bearing children threatens the family siri. Very few women are willing to sacrifice their family’s