In an increasingly interconnected world, awareness and visibility of transgender people have grown significantly. But the concept of being transgender—of identifying with a gender different from the one assigned at birth—is not new, nor is it exclusive to any one culture. Across continents and throughout history, gender diversity has existed under various names, roles, and cultural understandings.
From Travestis Argentinas to Hijras in India, and fa’afafine in Samoa to two-spirit identities among Native American tribes, every society has its own way of interpreting and integrating gender-variant individuals. This article explores transgender identities around the world, highlighting local terminologies, traditional roles, and modern challenges.
What Does “Transgender” Mean?
“Transgender” is an umbrella term used primarily in Western contexts to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. However, this definition can be too narrow or overly clinical when applied to global identities. In many countries, gender-variant people occupy unique social or spiritual roles that don’t necessarily align with Western medical or political frameworks of transition.
Understanding global transgender identities means looking beyond the Western binary of male/female and the path of hormone therapy or surgery. It involves exploring culturally specific expressions of gender that have long histories and meanings deeply rooted in local traditions.
Latin America: Travestis, Muxes, and Beyond
In Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and other Latin American countries, the term travesti refers to individuals assigned male at birth who live as women or in feminine roles, often without identifying strictly as transgender women. The identity of travesti is culturally distinct and often associated with a history of resistance and marginalization.
Unlike the Western transgender woman narrative, many travestis reject the idea of undergoing full medical transition or legally changing their gender markers. Instead, they carve out their own space—politically, socially, and linguistically. In Argentina, the phrase “ni hombre, ni mujer, travesti” (“not man, not woman, travesti”) is a proud declaration of identity.
Meanwhile, in Mexico, particularly in the region of Oaxaca, the muxe community has existed for centuries. Muxes are individuals assigned male at birth who take on traditionally female roles or combine male and female traits. The Zapotec culture considers muxes a third gender and, in many communities, they are respected and integrated into social and religious life.
South Asia: The Hijra Community
One of the most historically rich gender-diverse identities is that of the hijra in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Hijras have existed for thousands of years, mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures and Mughal histories. They are neither entirely male nor female and often live in tight-knit communities with their own social structures and leaders, called gurus.
Hijras have traditionally held cultural and spiritual roles, such as performing blessings at births and weddings. However, colonization and the imposition of Western legal codes pushed them into marginalization. For many years, hijras were criminalized under laws like Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
In recent years, there’s been progress. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have officially recognized a third gender on legal documents. Still, hijras often face discrimination, lack of employment opportunities, and limited healthcare access.
Southeast Asia: Waria, Kathoey, and Bakla
In Indonesia, the term waria is a blend of the words wanita (woman) and pria (man), describing transgender women or gender-diverse individuals. Warias often work in beauty salons or entertainment, and while they face societal stigma, they also enjoy a level of visibility in urban areas like Jakarta.
In Thailand, the term kathoey refers to people assigned male at birth who identify and live as women. Sometimes referred to in English as “ladyboys,” kathoeys are highly visible in Thai society, especially in the entertainment and tourism industries. While Thai culture appears tolerant on the surface, legal and social challenges still exist. For example, trans people in Thailand cannot change the gender on their ID cards, which can limit access to jobs, education, and healthcare.
The Philippines is home to the bakla, a term often used for feminine-presenting gay men and transgender women. Like kathoeys, bakla are highly visible in Filipino media and popular culture. However, bakla is not strictly synonymous with transgender—some bakla may identify as gay men, while others may live as women without necessarily identifying as trans.
The Pacific: Fa’afafine, Fakaleiti, and Gender Fluidity
In many Polynesian cultures, gender diversity is seen as a natural part of society. In Samoa, fa’afafine are individuals assigned male at birth who embody both masculine and feminine traits. Rather than being viewed as deviant or outside the norm, fa’afafine are often fully integrated into family and community life. Many take on caregiving roles, and some even raise children of their siblings.
Similarly, in Tonga, fakaleiti (or leitis) occupy a third gender role. Despite Western religious influences that have brought more conservative attitudes, many communities still honor and respect these individuals.
What’s remarkable in the Pacific Islands is the cultural acceptance and often the normalization of gender fluidity. These identities are not seen as political or pathological, but as an organic part of community life.
Africa: A Complex and Often Hidden Landscape
In many African cultures, gender-diverse individuals have existed long before colonialism introduced rigid binary gender norms. Among the Buganda of Uganda, historical records speak of male-bodied individuals who took on female roles in royal courts. In South Africa, which has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world regarding LGBTQ+ rights, transgender people have legal recognition but still face deep-rooted stigma.
Terminology varies widely by region and language. In Nigeria, for example, visibility is limited due to strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws, yet underground communities exist where trans identities are expressed through fashion, performance, and private gatherings.
Activists across the continent are working to revive pre-colonial understandings of gender that were more fluid and inclusive than many contemporary legal or religious frameworks.
Indigenous North America: Two-Spirit People
Among many Native American and First Nations cultures, the term two-spirit is used to describe individuals who embody both masculine and feminine spirits. Coined in 1990 as part of a movement to reclaim Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality, two-spirit is not just a gender identity—it is deeply tied to spiritual and community roles.
Two-spirit people often held important positions as healers, matchmakers, artists, and mediators. Colonization, Christianity, and forced assimilation erased or suppressed many of these traditions, but recent decades have seen a revival of two-spirit identity among younger Indigenous people seeking to reconnect with their heritage.
Europe and the West: Legal Advances, Cultural Battles
In Western countries like the United States, Canada, and across Europe, transgender people have gained increasing visibility and legal protections in the past two decades. The ability to change legal gender, access to gender-affirming care, and representation in media have all improved.
However, backlash is strong. Trans rights have become a political flashpoint in many countries, with debates around bathrooms, sports participation, and children’s access to puberty blockers dominating headlines.
Even within the West, terminologies differ. In France, transgenres and transidentitaires are terms used. In Germany, Transsexuelle or Transgender are common, though the legal system still retains old medicalized frameworks.
Final Words
Across cultures and throughout history, transgender and gender-diverse people have existed, often playing vital roles in society. While the names, expressions, and social positions differ, a shared thread connects them all: the courage to live authentically in the face of adversity.
Understanding these global identities helps challenge the idea that transgender experiences are a modern or Western phenomenon. Instead, they reveal a rich tapestry of gender diversity that has always been part of the human experience.
By respecting local terminologies, acknowledging cultural context, and listening to the voices of those who live these realities, we move toward a more inclusive and accurate understanding of gender in all its forms.
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