Hijra : What Are You?
» Transgendered
Tejal Shah’s What Are You? depicts a reality far beyond most American men - heterosexual or gay:
The theme of Shah’s current work—the deeply rooted need by transsexuals to undergo genital surgery and become gender concordant—cuts across culture and nationality. Yet, there are few places where this phenomenon is more interesting than in India, where “Hijra,” as trannies there are called, are widely accepted, and are even asked to perform in Hindu religious ceremonies. Indeed, they are also feared because of their supposed ability to cast powerful curses. A man in India can have sex with and even marry a Hijra and not be thought of as gay himself, because the Hijra is considered a third sex.
Digital Artist Tejal Shah Depicts Tranny Sex Workers from Mumbai
