The community I picked for Bridge Project 4 is the Transgender Community of Pakistan, commonly known as the “Khusra”, “Khawaja Sira” or the “Hijra community”. Casted out, isolated and even murdered in the past, they’re forced into prostitution. However, this year 13 trans candidates are running for the parliament. Pakistan is a conservative and deeply religious country where homosexuality is illegal. In 2009, it has officially recognized a third gender and granted the option to self-identify intersex people on official documents. I will create wings with wings to and put quotes and writings on it to show that they only need opportunities in order to fly.
This community still faces violence by extremists who refuse to accept them. Just a year ago, in August 2017, a few armed men gunned down a group of transgenders walking in the streets of Karachi. Being a part of the Khawaja Siracommunity has left these individuals to be seen as sex objects by the conservatives. I want to cast the lower human body with plaster and place hands on the genitals representing how they are forced into sex slavery and prostitution. The body will have gold foil on it. The base of the wings and the plaster body will be wood. These three solid materials will represent how strong they are as a community.
Pakistan is home to at least half a million hijras today, but life is anything but easy for them. They faced with challenges everyday which include the lack of access to education and job opportunities, being shunned and killed by family members, physical violence including sexual assault and poor living conditions to name a few.
Due to the stigma attached to this community, parents and families do not want to be associated with a child who does not fit the societal norms and end up killing them or giving them to the Hijra Community. Intersex beings usually do not receive an education because of the marginalization and are left in poverty. It’s the same with employment as businesses would not hire them. According to a study conducted by a non-profit organization, Vision, based in Islamabad, only 7% of intersex people reach high school level. With unsustainable income and discrimination, they move into colonies and quarters with lack of proper living conditions. Furthermore, they are forced into the Guru-Chelasystem which is when a man or a woman takes a transgender person under their protection in exchange for their daily earnings. The earnings come from sex work, dancing or begging.
This community still faces violence by extremists who refuse to accept them. Just a year ago, in August 2017, a few armed men gunned down a group of transgenders walking in the streets of Karachi. Being a part of the Khawaja Siracommunity has left these individuals to be seen as sex objects by the conservatives. In the past they used to get invited to parties and weddings to dance and this was seen as an artistic response to the oppression they face on daily basis. They started getting famous as dancers and felt empowered and accepted for who they are. People from this community clap loudly for attention during their dance performances. The sharp clap is a horizontal flat palm striking against each other, with fingers widespread. It is their way of saying ‘I am, who I am’, shunning the societal norms. Today a different narrative runs through the progressive steps being taken within Pakistan and the once ‘outcasted hijras’ are able to get jobs in the mainstream industries.
Kami Sid is the first Pakistani trans person to rise to prominence and also works as an actor and LGBTQ rights activist. In 2012, she travelled to Thailand for her first photoshoot and brought about a lot of backlash from the audience. In November 2016, she again did a photoshoot as form of a protest against the violence and atrocities of against the trans community. Sid has given lectures and motivational speeches on transphobia and misogyny in London and Karachi. Furthermore, she is the member of “Street to School” which promotes and teaches sex-education and cultural diversity to children. In 2017, Kami Sid made her acting debut in the short film “Rani” as a transgender who makes a living by selling toys in the streets. Zara Changezi, another trans person and activist is breaking all barriers and stereotypes. She recently casted in a movie “denial” which will be about the obstacles faced by the transgender community. Lastly, there is Almas Bobby, the head of the community who makes a cameo appearance in films and movies to spread awareness. A few years ago, she was seen in the one of the highest grossing film “Bol” which means speak out in Urdu. The villain is a father who murders his son for wanting to wear women’s clothes. However, even with such progressive steps being taken, they still continue to clap for attention.
Material:
- Casting plaster
- Wire for wings
- Wood for base
Using three solid material to represent this community
Works Cited
Baume, Matt. “62 Trans Women Have Been Murdered in Pakistan Since 2015 – And the Community Is Outraged.” Them., Them., 24 Aug. 2018, www.them.us/story/trans-women-violence-pakistan.
Desk, Web. “Transgender Community Contesting Elections for the First Time in Pakistan’s History.” World | Thenews.com.pk |, TheNews International, 24 July 2018, www.thenews.com.pk/latest/345699-transgender-community-gets-representation-in-polls-for-the-first-time-in-pakistans-history.
5 Challenges Faced by the Transgender Community in Pakistan, pakistanbol.com/5-challenges-faced-by-the-transgender-community-in-pakistan/.
Barker, Memphis. “Once Ostracised, Now Pakistani Transgender People Are Running for Parliament.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 23 July 2018, www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/23/pakistani-transgender-people-office-election.
Baig, Rabail. “A First for Pakistan’s Third Gender.” Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy, 30 Mar. 2012, foreignpolicy.com/2012/03/30/a-first-for-pakistans-third-gender/.
Samuel Osborne @SamuelOsborne93. “Pakistan Passes Law Guaranteeing Transgender Rights.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 9 May 2018, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/pakistan-transgender-rights-lgbt-national-assembly-law-drivers-license-passport-a8343321.html.
TVI. “Quaid-i-Azam University Appointed First Ever Transgender Lecturer of Pakistan.” Tele-Visual Infolink, 31 May 2017, tvi.com.pk/quaid-i-azam-university-appointed-first-ever-transgender-lecturer-of-pakistan/.
Mosbergen, Dominique. “Pakistan May Soon Put The U.S. To Shame On Transgender Rights.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 Aug. 2017, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pakistan-transgender-rights_us_59916226e4b08a2472757b83
