History and cultural diversity

This chapter will discuss different ways gender has been understood historically, and across different cultures. Historical data is reviewed using the case study approach. Identity categories are analysed, illustrating how relatively recently gender was not commonly or instinctively binarised. Pre-dating contemporary language, variation in gender expression (sometimes related to sexuality) is explored through examples of English Mollies, Italian Femminielli, Roman eunuchs, and Albanian Sworn Virgins, who were all positioned as “other” from men and women, without necessarily being marginalised. The chapter will also explore the range of North American two-spirit people, the Buginese people of Indonesia who have a five-gender system, and other examples including the South American Machi and Indian Hijra.