Exploring the Nature of Social Exclusion of the Hijra People in Dhaka City

Abstract

The ‘third gender’ or ‘hijra’ people, who identify themselves to be neither male nor female, are largely socially excluded. This article followed the qualitative method of research. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 28 hijra respondents, and three interviews were conducted with key informants. The purposive sampling method was used to select the required respondents. Very few of the previous research focused on the aspects of social exclusion of the hijra people and their current situation in a society. This will be a significant study on exploring the dimensions of social exclusion of the hijra people after being recognized as a ‘third gender’ in Bangladesh. This article examines the exclusion from the perspectives of social, economic, cultural, and political participation of the hijra community in Dhaka city, the capital city of Bangladesh. The research findings expressed that the official recognition of hijra as a third gender has not actually brought any changes in their situations. The results concluded that they are still excluded from social, economic, cultural, and political participation. There is a need for interventions from government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to minimize the vulnerability of hijra people to ensure better living standards. Future studies should focus on the living conditions of the hijra population based on the social exclusion they face in all other areas in Bangladesh.