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"Christian woman with daughter, Madras"

Hijras are referred to as the third gender and are accepted in South Asia within their designated niches. They are often male-to-female transsexuals or are born as hermaphrodites. They consider themselves neither male nor female, but use female first names. In Tamil, they primarily use the term "Ali". They were low in the caste system, but enjoyed a special cultic status as they are neither male nor female. As many hijras come from a poor background and are rarely able to read and write, this photograph is a speciality. It was probably taken in a studio and had to be paid for accordingly by those who commissioned the portrait. Contrary to the caption, it is probably not a woman with her daughter but a hijra with his male disciple. The guru-hijra wears a chequered sari and little jewellery. Her chela (disciple) looks quite young, she is wearing a lengha and a long-sleeved blouse. Her face appears to be painted white.

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Data Provider
Ethnologisches Museum
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Cataloguing data

Cultural attribution
Hijras
Object type
Photography
Dimensions
Kartonformat (Foto): 15,1 x 10,6 cm
Bildformat (Foto): 13,6 x 9 cm
Material/Technique
Cardboard box
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
VIII C 9622

Provenance and sources

when
1888
where
India [Land]
Tamil Nadu [Bundesstaat]
Madras [Stadt]
who
Hijras

who
Baessler, Arthur - Collectors

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
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