TITLE:
Social Organization of Transgender Sex Workers
AUTHORS:
Anwaar Mohyuddin, Muhammad Ali
KEYWORDS:
Guru; Chela; Khusras; Kachay; Pakay; Yar; Garria; Power Structure
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.3 No.7,
November
5,
2013
ABSTRACT: This paper is an attempt to
document life of male sex workers as transgender in Pakistan and to describe their cultural
practices with reference to ritual performs on different occasion. Qualitative research methods combing
in-depth interviews, FGDs, and observation
were employed to gather information. An effort has been made to investigate the
cultural life of the transgender and the pattern of their social interaction within
the community as well as with the outsiders. Analysis based on thematic description
of the themes generated after reviewing data. The research process revealed that males who were engaged
in the sex industry have two types of sociological division: first, young and having male identity with potential to transform
in transgender; while other transgender
plays dual roles: a) within sex worker
community as transgender women, b) male outside the transgender community. These males
fulfill their socio-psychological and economic needs through entrance in the transgender
community. Most of them consider themselves as having feminine soul and masculine
body. The male engaging in sex work is a complex phenomenon with reference to their identity and
performance of cultural rituals. An exploratory research study needs to be
conducted to unfold the notion of dual identity which male sex workers have.