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With the flood of abuses hurled at her， she， in that unbearable condition and numb with her family’s deafening silence towards neighbors’ mockery， decided to leave her home and lived on her own. This is a case of an exasperated Sudha， a transgender （TG） from Chennai， the capital of Tamil Nadu， South India.
It would be interesting if one could change the gender at gender dysphoria to choose the body in which one is most comfortable with. Why is “gender change” ostracized？ Is gender sacred in the materialistic world？ Who makes the rule？
People keep changing their personal attributes all the time. This has today become the order of the day. Artificial changes are effected from skin to hair. They dye their hair， diet to extremes， undergo cosmetic surgery， perform skin graft and develop their muscles. These they do so that they would have a striking resemblance of their favorite models. On top of this， people change their spouse， religion， nationality， job and residence. However， gender is not changed.
当辱骂像洪水般拍向她，她的家人对邻居的嘲笑保持了沉默，使她无法忍受而又麻木，于是她决定离开家自己生活。这个案例来自于愤怒的苏妲，她是来自南印度泰米尔纳德邦首府钦奈市的一位变性人。
如果人们能够在性别不悦时改变性别，选择自己觉得最舒服的身体，那将十分有趣。为什么“性别改变”会如此受排斥？性别在一个物质化的世界中是神圣的吗？谁决定了规则？
人们总是改变他们的个人属性。这在当今已经成为日常秩序。人为的改变可能从皮肤直到头发。他们将头发染色，极度节食，做整形手术，接受植皮，塑造肌肉。他们这样做可以使自己将最喜欢的典范们的优点完美结合。在此之上，人们还会更换他们的配偶、宗教、国籍、工作和居住地。然而，他们的性别并没有改变。
Nature makes the mistake. In this civilized as well as globalized world， it is irrational to stigmatize TG for no fault of their own. In fact， gender is a social construction. We fail to recognize the point that just because some forms of behaviour are uncommon we cannot treat the persons possessing such characters as abnormal and unhealthy to our societal existence. The conventional definitions of gender we have been inculcated with since our birth make it easier for us to come to inferences based on our stereotypical views which inflict great agony on the ones at the receiving end. Also， society becomes insensitive towards them and does not let them lead a dignified life as other humans.
They wrestle with gender dysphoria discomfort at a very tender age. They either have a range of effeminate or masculine characters which are completely contrary to what they are assigned to at birth. When their urge tops the height， they face gender identity disorders. Then， they start engrossing a new identity， experiencing bouts of discrimination due to bias about their new identity， including stigma， shame， isolation， anxiety， bullying and even physical and sexual assaults. Due to circumstances， they are fully engaged in low paying jobs like dancing， singing and prostitution and begging. Sudha continued her melancholy story with a brave smile on her lips and an empowered look in her eyes. “As I realized my gender disconformity at that young age， I was abused by my peers at school. This eventually forced me to drop out from my studies and my society as well. Then， I resorted to prostitution. This is not my conscious choice but the only chance for my survival as I had no education. I became a secret sex provider at night，” as she put it.
大自然是会犯错误的。在如今文明而又全球化的世界中，将变性视为是他们自身错误而带来的耻辱是不理智的。事实上，性别是一个社会构造。我们不能将拥有不寻常行为方式的人当成社会存在的不正常或不健康，然而，我们并不能认清这一点。自我们出生以来一直被灌输的对性别的定义使我们更容易基于我们带有成见的观点形成推论，这会使接收这些观点的人们承受极大的痛苦。而且，社会对这些人并不敏感，使他们不能像其他人类一样过有尊严的生活。
他们从幼年起就与性别焦虑症带来的不适作斗争。他们拥有与他们生来的性别完全相反的女性化的或男性化的性格。当他们的主张到达顶点，他们就面临着性别身份的混乱。然后，他们开始执着于一个新的身份，经受着偏见带来的各种歧视，包括侮辱、羞愧、孤立、焦虑、欺负，甚至是身体侵犯和性侵犯。出于环境的因素，他们完全被困于低收入职业，如跳舞、唱歌、卖淫和乞讨。
苏妲继续着她忧郁的生活，但她一直勇敢的面带微笑，眼神中充满力量。苏妲说：“当我在非常小的时候意识到我的性别不适，我在学校被同龄人欺辱。这最终迫使我辍学，也迫使我远离社会。然后，我开始卖淫。这并不是我的有意之选，但却是我生存的唯一机会，因为我没有什么学历。我成为了在夜里秘密提供性服务的人。”
The third gender， once a revered community， lives in the fringes of society at present. Priya， a Program Associater of Tamil Nadu Aids Initiative（TAI） said， “In ancient India， the Mughal Empire respected and provided them with an important role in court administration as royal guards； even the Vedas -- the ancient sacred Hindu texts， believe that they bring prosperity and provide healthy fertility powers.” History books and religious epics exhibit the characters who blurred the conservative gender frames. Despite this， the practice at present is different， showing a sad and completely unsympathetic picture towards the TG community.”
Sudha said， “I underwent gender reassignment surgery. I am now leading a respectable life， free of sarcastic comments and having a pleasing physical appearance of a woman. However， this is uncommon among most TG due to poverty. Thereby， they effect changes only in their grooming and name.”
Love is another solace for them， in addition to getting temporary relief and happiness from alcohol and drugs. The transgender women of South India have an extended family system that unites and binds them with ample love and affection they lost from their own beloved families.
第三性别，曾经是令人敬畏的群体，现在生活在社会的边缘。泰米尔纳德邦艾滋病行动组织成员普瑞雅说：“在古印度，莫卧儿帝国尊敬他们，并为他们提供了法庭管理中的关键职位——皇家卫士；古老神圣的印度文献《吠陀经》甚至也认为他们能够带来繁荣和健康的生育能力。”历史书籍和宗教史诗呈现了那些保守的性别框架难以区分的人物。尽管如此，当前的实践仍与之背道而驰，展现了一幅对变性人群体完全没有同情心的悲哀画面。
苏妲说：“我做了变性手术。我现在过着受人尊敬的生活，不再有嘲讽的言论。我也有了女人的动人外表。然而，这在变性人群体中实属罕见，因为他们大都贫穷。因此，他们只能改变他们的装扮和名字。” 除了通过酒精和毒品寻找短暂的放松和愉悦，爱情是他们的另一慰藉。那位来自南印度的变性女人建立了一个大家庭，用大爱将他们紧密联系在一起，弥补他们在各自的家庭中所缺失的情感。
“The family is fully matriarchal and there is no role for men； I have mothers， grandmothers， aunts， daughters， mother in laws and daughter in laws； this is a unique family system which has no chronological age system. TG who join this family become part of this hierarchical system； our bonding is based on a string of truth， love and loyalty，” Sudha said with a contented expression.
She feel that today， there is a constant reformation taking place in the traditional Indian mindsets in terms of how this group is being ill-treated. Thereby， the discrimination and harassment against the TG community has decreased due to media coverage and now they are slowly being assimilated into the mainstream society.
Sudha said with an elated smile， “Fortunately， I got the job as a Community Consultant at TAI just because of the experience I gained during my role as a sex worker. I have my own， painful experience of encountering aggression by goondas and the police， rough handling by customers， mockery by teasers and even robbery. I work together in our mission for a better life， a better tomorrow for TG.”
苏妲骄傲地说：“这个家庭完全是母系氏族的，没有男性的角色。我有母亲、祖母、姨母、女儿、岳母和继女。这是一个独一无二的家庭体系，它没有按时间顺序排列的年龄系统。加入这个家庭的变性人会成为这个分层系统的一部分。我们的纽带是通过真相、爱和忠诚建立的。”
她感觉到，传统的印度观念正在经历持续的重塑，对于变性人群体如何受到糟糕的对待也会有更好的认识。针对变性人群体的歧视和攻击也由于媒体报道的增加而减少，他们现如今也正在逐渐被主流社会吸纳。
苏妲得意地笑言：“幸运的是，正因为我在从事性工作期间所积累的经验，我可以作为社区顾问在泰米尔纳德邦艾滋病行动组织工作。我有我自己的痛苦经历，比如被流氓和警察攻击、被顾客粗暴地对待、以及被爱戏弄的人甚至强盗嘲笑。我在我们的团队工作是为了更好的生活，也是为了变性人更好的明天。”
However， there are yet many battles to be won by the empowered persons of TG community in all walks of life.
“A TG got a job in a reputed IT company and was provided with a whole package comprising a handsome salary， transport and a personal lap top， but on the condition of working from home. Such discrimination must be recognized as invisible bigotry，” she said vehemently.
“They encounter abuses and discomforts when they use “Men only” and “Women only” places such as toilets， changing rooms and when standing in a gender divided queue，” she opined.
In the words of Marilyn Monroe， “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”
然而，在各行各业，仍有许多场战役等待赋权之后的变性人去赢得。
她激动地说：“一个变性人得到了一所知名IT公司的工作，公司为他提供全套福利，包括高薪、交通工具和笔记本电脑，但唯一的条件是在家办公。这样的歧视是一种隐性的盲从，必须得到正视。”
她认为：“当他们使用如厕所、更衣室等‘女士止步’或‘男士止步’的地方时，或当他们站在以性别区分的队伍中时，他们会遭遇侮辱和不适。”
正如玛丽莲·梦露说的那样：“想要成为其他人是在浪费你自己本身。”
It would be interesting if one could change the gender at gender dysphoria to choose the body in which one is most comfortable with. Why is “gender change” ostracized？ Is gender sacred in the materialistic world？ Who makes the rule？
People keep changing their personal attributes all the time. This has today become the order of the day. Artificial changes are effected from skin to hair. They dye their hair， diet to extremes， undergo cosmetic surgery， perform skin graft and develop their muscles. These they do so that they would have a striking resemblance of their favorite models. On top of this， people change their spouse， religion， nationality， job and residence. However， gender is not changed.
当辱骂像洪水般拍向她，她的家人对邻居的嘲笑保持了沉默，使她无法忍受而又麻木，于是她决定离开家自己生活。这个案例来自于愤怒的苏妲，她是来自南印度泰米尔纳德邦首府钦奈市的一位变性人。
如果人们能够在性别不悦时改变性别，选择自己觉得最舒服的身体，那将十分有趣。为什么“性别改变”会如此受排斥？性别在一个物质化的世界中是神圣的吗？谁决定了规则？
人们总是改变他们的个人属性。这在当今已经成为日常秩序。人为的改变可能从皮肤直到头发。他们将头发染色，极度节食，做整形手术，接受植皮，塑造肌肉。他们这样做可以使自己将最喜欢的典范们的优点完美结合。在此之上，人们还会更换他们的配偶、宗教、国籍、工作和居住地。然而，他们的性别并没有改变。
Nature makes the mistake. In this civilized as well as globalized world， it is irrational to stigmatize TG for no fault of their own. In fact， gender is a social construction. We fail to recognize the point that just because some forms of behaviour are uncommon we cannot treat the persons possessing such characters as abnormal and unhealthy to our societal existence. The conventional definitions of gender we have been inculcated with since our birth make it easier for us to come to inferences based on our stereotypical views which inflict great agony on the ones at the receiving end. Also， society becomes insensitive towards them and does not let them lead a dignified life as other humans.
They wrestle with gender dysphoria discomfort at a very tender age. They either have a range of effeminate or masculine characters which are completely contrary to what they are assigned to at birth. When their urge tops the height， they face gender identity disorders. Then， they start engrossing a new identity， experiencing bouts of discrimination due to bias about their new identity， including stigma， shame， isolation， anxiety， bullying and even physical and sexual assaults. Due to circumstances， they are fully engaged in low paying jobs like dancing， singing and prostitution and begging. Sudha continued her melancholy story with a brave smile on her lips and an empowered look in her eyes. “As I realized my gender disconformity at that young age， I was abused by my peers at school. This eventually forced me to drop out from my studies and my society as well. Then， I resorted to prostitution. This is not my conscious choice but the only chance for my survival as I had no education. I became a secret sex provider at night，” as she put it.
大自然是会犯错误的。在如今文明而又全球化的世界中，将变性视为是他们自身错误而带来的耻辱是不理智的。事实上，性别是一个社会构造。我们不能将拥有不寻常行为方式的人当成社会存在的不正常或不健康，然而，我们并不能认清这一点。自我们出生以来一直被灌输的对性别的定义使我们更容易基于我们带有成见的观点形成推论，这会使接收这些观点的人们承受极大的痛苦。而且，社会对这些人并不敏感，使他们不能像其他人类一样过有尊严的生活。
他们从幼年起就与性别焦虑症带来的不适作斗争。他们拥有与他们生来的性别完全相反的女性化的或男性化的性格。当他们的主张到达顶点，他们就面临着性别身份的混乱。然后，他们开始执着于一个新的身份，经受着偏见带来的各种歧视，包括侮辱、羞愧、孤立、焦虑、欺负，甚至是身体侵犯和性侵犯。出于环境的因素，他们完全被困于低收入职业，如跳舞、唱歌、卖淫和乞讨。
苏妲继续着她忧郁的生活，但她一直勇敢的面带微笑，眼神中充满力量。苏妲说：“当我在非常小的时候意识到我的性别不适，我在学校被同龄人欺辱。这最终迫使我辍学，也迫使我远离社会。然后，我开始卖淫。这并不是我的有意之选，但却是我生存的唯一机会，因为我没有什么学历。我成为了在夜里秘密提供性服务的人。”
The third gender， once a revered community， lives in the fringes of society at present. Priya， a Program Associater of Tamil Nadu Aids Initiative（TAI） said， “In ancient India， the Mughal Empire respected and provided them with an important role in court administration as royal guards； even the Vedas -- the ancient sacred Hindu texts， believe that they bring prosperity and provide healthy fertility powers.” History books and religious epics exhibit the characters who blurred the conservative gender frames. Despite this， the practice at present is different， showing a sad and completely unsympathetic picture towards the TG community.”
Sudha said， “I underwent gender reassignment surgery. I am now leading a respectable life， free of sarcastic comments and having a pleasing physical appearance of a woman. However， this is uncommon among most TG due to poverty. Thereby， they effect changes only in their grooming and name.”
Love is another solace for them， in addition to getting temporary relief and happiness from alcohol and drugs. The transgender women of South India have an extended family system that unites and binds them with ample love and affection they lost from their own beloved families.
第三性别，曾经是令人敬畏的群体，现在生活在社会的边缘。泰米尔纳德邦艾滋病行动组织成员普瑞雅说：“在古印度，莫卧儿帝国尊敬他们，并为他们提供了法庭管理中的关键职位——皇家卫士；古老神圣的印度文献《吠陀经》甚至也认为他们能够带来繁荣和健康的生育能力。”历史书籍和宗教史诗呈现了那些保守的性别框架难以区分的人物。尽管如此，当前的实践仍与之背道而驰，展现了一幅对变性人群体完全没有同情心的悲哀画面。
苏妲说：“我做了变性手术。我现在过着受人尊敬的生活，不再有嘲讽的言论。我也有了女人的动人外表。然而，这在变性人群体中实属罕见，因为他们大都贫穷。因此，他们只能改变他们的装扮和名字。” 除了通过酒精和毒品寻找短暂的放松和愉悦，爱情是他们的另一慰藉。那位来自南印度的变性女人建立了一个大家庭，用大爱将他们紧密联系在一起，弥补他们在各自的家庭中所缺失的情感。
“The family is fully matriarchal and there is no role for men； I have mothers， grandmothers， aunts， daughters， mother in laws and daughter in laws； this is a unique family system which has no chronological age system. TG who join this family become part of this hierarchical system； our bonding is based on a string of truth， love and loyalty，” Sudha said with a contented expression.
She feel that today， there is a constant reformation taking place in the traditional Indian mindsets in terms of how this group is being ill-treated. Thereby， the discrimination and harassment against the TG community has decreased due to media coverage and now they are slowly being assimilated into the mainstream society.
Sudha said with an elated smile， “Fortunately， I got the job as a Community Consultant at TAI just because of the experience I gained during my role as a sex worker. I have my own， painful experience of encountering aggression by goondas and the police， rough handling by customers， mockery by teasers and even robbery. I work together in our mission for a better life， a better tomorrow for TG.”
苏妲骄傲地说：“这个家庭完全是母系氏族的，没有男性的角色。我有母亲、祖母、姨母、女儿、岳母和继女。这是一个独一无二的家庭体系，它没有按时间顺序排列的年龄系统。加入这个家庭的变性人会成为这个分层系统的一部分。我们的纽带是通过真相、爱和忠诚建立的。”
她感觉到，传统的印度观念正在经历持续的重塑，对于变性人群体如何受到糟糕的对待也会有更好的认识。针对变性人群体的歧视和攻击也由于媒体报道的增加而减少，他们现如今也正在逐渐被主流社会吸纳。
苏妲得意地笑言：“幸运的是，正因为我在从事性工作期间所积累的经验，我可以作为社区顾问在泰米尔纳德邦艾滋病行动组织工作。我有我自己的痛苦经历，比如被流氓和警察攻击、被顾客粗暴地对待、以及被爱戏弄的人甚至强盗嘲笑。我在我们的团队工作是为了更好的生活，也是为了变性人更好的明天。”
However， there are yet many battles to be won by the empowered persons of TG community in all walks of life.
“A TG got a job in a reputed IT company and was provided with a whole package comprising a handsome salary， transport and a personal lap top， but on the condition of working from home. Such discrimination must be recognized as invisible bigotry，” she said vehemently.
“They encounter abuses and discomforts when they use “Men only” and “Women only” places such as toilets， changing rooms and when standing in a gender divided queue，” she opined.
In the words of Marilyn Monroe， “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”
然而，在各行各业，仍有许多场战役等待赋权之后的变性人去赢得。
她激动地说：“一个变性人得到了一所知名IT公司的工作，公司为他提供全套福利，包括高薪、交通工具和笔记本电脑，但唯一的条件是在家办公。这样的歧视是一种隐性的盲从，必须得到正视。”
她认为：“当他们使用如厕所、更衣室等‘女士止步’或‘男士止步’的地方时，或当他们站在以性别区分的队伍中时，他们会遭遇侮辱和不适。”
正如玛丽莲·梦露说的那样：“想要成为其他人是在浪费你自己本身。”