Female masculinities and women of third nature: Analyzing the gender and sexual politics of identity and visibility of alternative masculinities through indian mythologies and literary narratives
- Title
- Female masculinities and women of third nature: Analyzing the gender and sexual politics of identity and visibility of alternative masculinities through indian mythologies and literary narratives
- Creator
- Tanupriya S.
- Description
- Alternative sexualities have been a part of the Indian past since time immemorial, and mention of them is often visible in Sanskrit mythological texts. As much as the presence of hijras and other gendered cultural identities is in Indian and Western public discourses, there is a narrow space occupied by women of the third kind with female masculinities, with scant attention leading to the higher invisibility of women of the third kind. Female masculinity is often considered a "rejected shred, " while male masculinity is seen as real and heroic. This chapter focuses on "masculinity without men" to explore alternative masculinities-the concept popularized by Judith Halberstam (Judith Halberstam, Female Masculinity. Zubaan Books, New Delhi, 1998). We delve into the politics of alternative modes of enactment and production where male masculinity is embedded. This chapter centers on female masculinity and alternative forms of masculinities performed, enacted, and embodied by female individuals as reflected in the Indian past and mythology. This chapter further delves into identifying histories and representations of female masculinities in Indian literature to bring female masculinities and women of the third kind into academic discourse. Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022. All rights reserved.
- Source
- Transgender India: Understanding Third Gender Identities and Experiences, pp. 167-182.
- Date
- 2022-01-01
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Subject
- Colonial; Culture; Female Masculinity; Gender; India; Masculinities without men; Masculinity; Mythology; Sexuality; Third gender
- Coverage
- Tanupriya S., Department of English and Cultural Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Christ (Deemed to be University), Delhi NCR, India
- Rights
- Restricted Access
- Relation
- ISBN: 978-303096386-6; 978-303096385-9
- Format
- Online
- Language
- English
- Type
- Book chapter
Collection
Citation
Tanupriya S., “Female masculinities and women of third nature: Analyzing the gender and sexual politics of identity and visibility of alternative masculinities through indian mythologies and literary narratives,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed February 23, 2025, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/18566.