Portrayal of eunuchs in the media

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

I'm a female, someone is a male. In a similar fashion someone is a

hijra (North-Indian slang) or a Aravani (South-Indian slang). Why

does this society need to ostracize these people, they are also our

brethren. They are depicted by the media in a bizarre manner

sufficient enough to throw tantrums in the mind of people who know

nothing about them. But the truth about Hijras / Aravanis /

Transgender are something every person in the society needs to know

of.

Thus they are very much feminine people embedded in the shell of a

male. Like a woman; their feelings, mannerisms and physical desires

to love a man they become aware that they have different feelings

from men and have no feelings for a woman but want to act and behave

as a woman then they realize that they are in a wrong body, mentally

they find feminism more comforting and cannot control the desire to

act and behave as a women.

So why are they portrayed as people who are outcaste, subjected to

humiliation, shun away from the society.

Media might be a small word, but it has the power to take over or

change any person perception. This is the best and effective method

of communicating ideas or concepts. The present media helps human

unity all over the globe so as to help make the term global-village

more meaningful. Communication media is no more channels of news and

education. They have become guidelines and inspirations for

behavioral patterns for individuals and society.

In these circumstances, I would like to bring to the notice of the

public that there are many scenes in movies down south which

literally ostracizes the community. I read in an interview a couple

of years back that when a director of a leading Tamil film " Appu "

was to depict an Eunuch in the movie, the interviewer questioned

whether he knew the mannerisms of the community – for which his

answer was..

No. Some people say that only if you go through the various

experiences of these people will you be able to make the story

realistic. But this rule does not apply to everyone. Do I have to

kill someone to write about murder? So, if you want to know more

about such things to make them very realistic, you can watch old

films. You can go back to the books you have read earlier. You can

also think of what others have told you about their experiences.

In reality till you move to get to know them better, you surely cant

do understand that person. Then why are these community people

depicted this way. Isn't it gruesome to compare them to murderers?

This struggle is continuing on and on. But even every now and then

they are depicted as someone whom the society needs to be kept away

from. The social groups have worked extensively in trying to bring

about a change in the level of acceptance of the group within their

families and also within the communities. These portrayals would

surely damage the lives of many of them.

Why are they always taking crude examples of Hijras. It was a hijra

Shabnam who won an election, and her story was made as a movie.

There are many positive examples, why can't we take all those good

citations to depict them in a friendly manner.

Some of the super duper hits from South have started portraying the

hijras in a vulgar manner. Recent examples – Jeyam, Thiruda Thirudi,

Thirupachi and a couple of recent movies are having this trend.

The classic issue of whether media merely depicts the society or

society is shaped by the media will remain contested. But still the

same media will have its say in shaping the society.

According to a Supreme Court of India's directive - " . . . Film

censorship becomes necessary because a film motivates thought and

action and assures a high degree of attention and retention as

compared to the printed word. The combination of act and speech,

sight and sound in semi darkness of the theatre with elimination of

all distracting ideas will have a strong impact on the minds of the

viewers and can affect emotions.. . . "

Media is also important for media to be open-minded regarding

attitudes towards sexuality so that they can influence a society

that must be able to discuss and communicate about sexuality

honestly.

I would surely to mention that this hinders the activity of the

health workers who work amidst them in preventing the infiltration

of HIV among these groups.

Indhu Sudhakaran

Chennai

e-MAIL: <indhu27770@...>