Educating Transgender People (hijras): A need for mainstreaming the marginalised

  • Neetu .

Abstract

As a mother delivers her child and family members become aware of this, happiness spreads around to see the boy or a girl. But if the child falls in none of these categories, everyones response is different, particularly in Indian context. A third gender (any gender other than boy or girl) child is not acceptable to the family. Such children are born from normal parents but are discarded usually. Such a strong abhorrence for hijras is so common that even if we talk about them, we imagine someone crossing by with loud makeup, cracked voice and clapping in a distinct manner.  This is how we have conditioned our minds about transgender people. It is an irony that the people who are considered auspicious and so, are called for giving blessings to new-borns or newlyweds, are the same people who live their lives as an outlaw. This behaviour stems from the ignorance of people to understand them as they are, to realise how they feel, what problems they face and then co-operate them in lifting their status up. Education is a powerful tool to bring any change in society and teacher is a craftsman. For making efforts towards gender equity in the society, educating transgender people become the first and foremost step. This paper highlights the major problems faced by transgender people, need of their education and curriculum reforms needed for their inclusion.

Published
2020-01-11
Section
Articles