The Transgender Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z MISCELLANEOUS

Third Gender

(also: indigender)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Third gender is a phrase used in anthropology for genders and gender roles that do not fit the Western constructs of “man” or “woman.” Some people find the phrase offensive because of its colonialist or Eurocentric associations. For the purposes of having a place to store this information, the term will be used as the title of this page.

General Information

These are identities that are exclusive to the countries where they originate from. If you are not from the cultures that these identities originate from, it is ill-advised to use them.

Hijra

A broad term, hijra is a complex gender identity exclusive to the Indian subcontinent. Someone who is hijra may be neither male nor female. They may identify as male or female. They may be intersex. It may be considered similar to the term genderfluid.

Click to jump to external resources regarding the gender identity known as hijra.

Māhū

A gender that is exclusive to Native Hawaiian and Tahitian cultures. This identity is between male and female.

Muxe

A gender in Mexico.

Click to jump to external resources regarding the gender identity known as hijra.

Two-Spirit

This is a gender that is exclusive to native americans.

The colored stripes - lavender (diversity), hot pink (sex), red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), turquoise (magic/art), indigo (serenity), purple (spirit) - of the two-spirit flag have the same meanings as they do in the original rainbow flag.

The two feathers in the two-spirit flag represent man and woman.

The circle in the two-spirit flag represents unity.

Click to jump to external resources regarding the gender identity known as two spirit.