The Third Gender: Created by God, Denied by Society

Banok Fatima Rasheed

Third Gender according to our societal definition exists outside the traditional classification of male and female. Being a transgender person is difficult, as it is a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors that give shape to a person’s gender identity.

According to the research, there might be a genetic or hormonal impact on gender identity. However, the exact reasons are still not identified; transgender people are mostly not accepted by their own families, and then they are compelled to join transgender communities.

“Dr Sara Gill,” who is the first transgender doctor of Pakistan, was fully supported by her family in the beginning. However, when she decided not to hide her identity, her family stopped helping her. However, she still didn’t lose hope and completed her MBBS with many more complications.

Actually, why should they hide their identities? Why should they feel ashamed to present themselves in front of the world?

Moreover, transgender people face many challenging circumstances in our societies, and most people deny accepting them. However, they are the creations of the same creature who has created us.

If a transgender person chooses to beg, then they are mistreated by society. Also, if a transgender person decides to study, but society still treats them in the same way.

Personally, I have heard many stories where transgender people have come out of their homes to study. Still, they were as tortured as prisoners; neither girls nor boys were allowed to sit with them. Neither girls nor boys would be allowed to use their washrooms in an institution. Frequently, people taunt them in a hurtful way, which can be demotivating and prevent them from leaving their homes.

Dr Sara Gill, the first transgender MBBS doctor of Pakistan, shares her emotions and says, “Often people ask me a question, who are transgender? So I want to say to all of you that we are also human beings like you all, please don’t judge us by our organs and look at us.”

“Shehzadi Rai,” a transgender activist, talks about the recent attempted acid attacks.” I have faced 14 acid attacks from people. I was 16-17 when my family decided to throw me out of the house, and if that time I was not kicked out, then 100% today I would not be alive, they would have killed me in the name of honour killing.”

Mahnoor Chaudry explains her painful story, where she says,“In the beginning, I didn’t know that I was transgender. I was admitted to a boys’ school where every boy used to harass me and touch me with bad intentions. And when I reached the ninth class, I realized that I was different from these boys, and they had bad intentions for me.”

In a nutshell, one thing must be clear that transgender people themselves don’t choose to be different from us. Still, by nature, by God, they are different from us. Still, it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t accept them and torture them. Still, we must have good communication with them, and everyone must take them because it isn’t their fault to be a transgender person; we all know that the third gender exists, so we must accept the third gender.