Transgender Women in India: Neocolonialism, Stigmatization and Discrimination

Abstract

ABSTRACT Stigmatization is a widespread social process that is sustained via the use of social, cultural, economic, and political power, and it has negative outcomes such as discrimination and exclusion. In India, transgender people have historically been called Hijra, Aravanis, and Kothis, and they have struggled since British colonialism against cisgender and heteronormative conventions that label them as outsiders despite their deep pre-colonial cultural origins. This research uses Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological model t explore the independence and vulnerability of 45 transgender women living in Sambalpur City, Western Odisha, India. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from the group through the snowball sampling method. The research findings show that transgender women in India confront multiple forms of prejudice and stigma that diminish their agency and leave them more susceptible to harm. By underscoring the significance of historical, social, and cultural aspects, the socio-ecological model provides a holistic lens through which to comprehend these difficulties. Despite progress in legal recognition, transgender women continue to face significant barriers, necessitating ongoing socio-cultural, legal, and political efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination and enhance the agency, social inclusion, and wellbeing of transgender women.