In “Hijras as Neither Man nor Woman” Serena Nanda explores the class of gender that exists in Hinduism called Hijras. Hijras interestingly are sort of legislated transvestites. It is important to note that to become part of this class one need not have chosen to become a Hijira. Hijiras are neither man nor woman, as the title points out. What is most interesting is examining what the existence of an in-between gender does to society.
American society has always existed with a strict binary system of gender. At first glance a third in-between gender seems like a relief to the stereotyping and pressures caused by people who don't fully fit into the two genders. But as Nanda points out the Hijiras are a discriminated class. It is interesting to think about the dynamic presented. People who exist in what would be considered the Hijiras class in American exist with the possibility of a stigma being attached to them, but in India this stereotype is a given. Hijiras are required to identify themselves in different ways depending on locality. This required identification by Hijiras puts them at a definite disadvantage.
This is all I have to say about Hijiras.