Abstract
In the context of Pakistan, existing literature on male-female transgender persons has majorly focused on health-related issues such as Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS. Very few research studies have gone beyond and explored the socio-cultural aspects of khusra lives and their socio-economic organization. The objective of current research is to focus on the economic organization of khusra community using qualitative research as the research strategy. For the purpose of current research, data was collected from 4 locales; Mansehra City, City Kasur, Rawalpindi and Kot Radha Kishan. In-depth interviews were conducted with sampled respondents from sampled sub-locales of 4 main locales. The findings highlight that set against the backdrop of their lives categorized by structural violence, socio-economic discrimination, and ostracization, khusra community manages to integrate with the wider population through various forms of survival strategies, which for the current study are grouped under economic organization. These forms of survival strategies or livelihood options were the focus of the current research. The data elicited through individual and group interviews highlight dhinga/tola bazar, bidhaee and taarhi. dance functions, and prostitution as the forms of economic organization. These forms of economic organization do not guarantee social security and are transient in nature. Furthermore, the narratives also detail various forms of risks and vulnerabilities (socio-economic and health-related), respondents face while earning through prostitution and other forms of economic organization. Keywords: Economic Organization Ethnography, Khusra, and Pakistan
Highlights
Pakistan, despite historically and culturally being a homosocial and homoaffectionalist society, is asymptotic towards discrimination and ostracization of ‘off the track’, ‘sinfully unconventional’ or ‘deviant’ (Caceres et al, 2008) individuals of the society
The current research has explored various forms of economic organization of khusra communities residing in four different locales of Pakistan
Qualitative research methods have helped in understanding the communal dynamics of socio-economic organization of the khusra community and in deciphering the layered narratives of structural discrimination, and paucity of livelihood options
Summary
Despite historically and culturally being a homosocial and homoaffectionalist society, is asymptotic towards discrimination and ostracization of ‘off the track’, ‘sinfully unconventional’ or ‘deviant’ (Caceres et al, 2008) individuals of the society. According to Pakistan Penal Code, homosexual activities are punishable; strict social norms and religious statute further prohibit such sexual proclivities. With severe consequences to those men and women caught in non-marital sexual activities and prosecution against adultery and infidelity, the more accessible choice for unburdening compulsive sexual urges for men is to get into secretive sexual links with other boys or feminized men (Khan & Khan, 2010). Among these feminized men are the khusras; the biological males who are raised as boys but show pronounced inclinations towards inhabiting attires and behaviors of women. Sidelined, socially ridiculed and sexualized, and economically marginalized, khusras leave their native areas and join communes called Derai where their presences are assured by following organized rituals and customs
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