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The terms '''third gender''' and '''third sex''' describe individuals who are categorized (by their will or by social consensus) as neither [[man]] nor [[woman]], as well as the social category present in those societies who recognize three or more [[gender]]s. The term "third" is usually understood to mean "other"; some [[cultural anthropology|anthropologists]] and [[sociology|sociologists]] have described fourth,<ref>Roscoe, Will (2000). ''Changing Ones: Third and Fourth Genders in Native North America''. Palgrave Macmillan (June 17, 2000) ISBN 0-312-22479-6<br>See also: Trumbach, Randolph (1994). ''London’s Sapphists: From Three Sexes to Four Genders in the Making of Modern Culture.'' In Third Sex, Third Gender: Beyond Sexual Dimorphism in Culture and History, edited by Gilbert Herdt, 111-36. New York: Zone (MIT). ISBN 978-0-942299-82-3</ref> fifth,<ref name="Graham">Graham, Sharyn (2001), [http://www.insideindonesia.org/weekly-articles/sulawesis-fifth-gender Sulawesi's fifth gender], [[Inside Indonesia]], April–June 2001.</ref> and even ''some''<ref name="Martin">Martin, M. Kay and Voorhies, Barbara (1975). ''Supernumerary Sexes,'' chapter 4 of Female of the Species (New York: Columbia University Press, 1975), 23.</ref> genders. The concepts of "third", "fourth" and "some" genders can be somewhat difficult to understand within Western conceptual categories.<ref>McGee, R. Jon and Richard L. Warms 2011 Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History. New York, McGraw Hill.</ref> |
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The terms '''third gender''' and '''third sex''' describe individuals who are categorized (by their will or by social consensus) as neither [[man]] nor [[woman]], as well as the social category present in those societies who recognize three or more [[gender]]s. The term "third" is usually understood to mean "other"; some [[cultural anthropology|anthropologists]] and [[sociology|sociologists]] have described fourth,<ref>Roscoe, Will (2000). ''Changing Ones: Third and Fourth Genders in Native North America''. Palgrave Macmillan (June 17, 2000) ISBN 0-312-22479-6<br>See also: Trumbach, Randolph (1994). ''London’s Sapphists: From Three Sexes to Four Genders in the Making of Modern Culture.'' In Third Sex, Third Gender: Beyond Sexual Dimorphism in Culture and History, edited by Gilbert Herdt, 111-36. New York: Zone (MIT). ISBN 978-0-942299-82-3</ref> fifth,<ref name="Graham">Graham, Sharyn (2001), [http://www.insideindonesia.org/weekly-articles/sulawesis-fifth-gender Sulawesi's fifth gender], [[Inside Indonesia]], April–June 2001.</ref> and even ''some''<ref name="Martin">Martin, M. Kay and Voorhies, Barbara (1975). ''Supernumerary Sexes,'' chapter 4 of Female of the Species (New York: Columbia University Press, 1975), 23.</ref> genders. The concepts of "third", "fourth" and "some" genders can be somewhat difficult to understand within Western conceptual categories.<ref>McGee, R. Jon and Richard L. Warms 2011 Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History. New York, McGraw Hill. Examples: Atharva Saney,Aditya Sakpal, aniket Gupta, Sami Sayed |
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Although [[biology]] usually determines genetically whether a human's biological [[sex]] is [[male]] or [[female]] (though [[intersex]] people are also born), the state of personally identifying as, or being identified by society as, belonging to neither the male or female genders is considered relative to the individual's [[gender role]] in society, [[gender identity]], and [[sexual orientation]]. While some western scholars have sought to understand the term 'third gender' in terms of 'sexual orientation,' several other scholars, especially the native non-western scholars, consider this as a misrepresentation of 'third genders.'<ref>[http://rspas.anu.edu.au/papers/pah/theravada.html Non-normative Sex/Gender Categories in the Theravada Buddhist Scriptures]</ref><ref>[https://jyx.jyu.fi/dspace/bitstream/handle/123456789/7281/URN_NBN_fi_jyu-2005460.pdf?sequence=1 ANCESTORS OF TWO-SPIRITS: REPRESENTATIONS OF NATIVE AMERICAN THIRD-GENDER MALES]</ref> To different cultures or individuals, a third gender may represent an intermediate state between man and woman, a state of being both (such as "the spirit of a man in the body of a woman"), the state of being neither (neuter), the ability to cross or swap genders, another category altogether independent of men and women. This last definition is favored by those who argue for a strict interpretation of the "third gender" concept. In any case, all of these characterizations are defining gender and not the sex that biology gives to living beings. |
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Although [[biology]] usually determines genetically whether a human's biological [[sex]] is [[male]] or [[female]] (though [[intersex]] people are also born), the state of personally identifying as, or being identified by society as, belonging to neither the male or female genders is considered relative to the individual's [[gender role]] in society, [[gender identity]], and [[sexual orientation]]. While some western scholars have sought to understand the term 'third gender' in terms of 'sexual orientation,' several other scholars, especially the native non-western scholars, consider this as a misrepresentation of 'third genders.'<ref>[http://rspas.anu.edu.au/papers/pah/theravada.html Non-normative Sex/Gender Categories in the Theravada Buddhist Scriptures]</ref><ref>[https://jyx.jyu.fi/dspace/bitstream/handle/123456789/7281/URN_NBN_fi_jyu-2005460.pdf?sequence=1 ANCESTORS OF TWO-SPIRITS: REPRESENTATIONS OF NATIVE AMERICAN THIRD-GENDER MALES]</ref> To different cultures or individuals, a third gender may represent an intermediate state between man and woman, a state of being both (such as "the spirit of a man in the body of a woman"), the state of being neither (neuter), the ability to cross or swap genders, another category altogether independent of men and women. This last definition is favored by those who argue for a strict interpretation of the "third gender" concept. In any case, all of these characterizations are defining gender and not the sex that biology gives to living beings. |