This piece by Neil John is basically a 'response' to the ongoing Mission Victory India ( MVI) 'debate' (on likely future induction of 'transgenders' in the armed forces) that was triggered by a recent article by Lt Gen ( Dr) Madhuri Kanitkar titled 'Another Seat at the Table ' that was published by Indian Express on 22 Nov 2023 . The article throws more light on the subject that could possibly take the debate further with more responses and articles, too?
Every human has an intrinsic and distinct, physical, mental, and physiological bearing.
Like all the organs in your body that have a specified task, even in your hands, you have a finger called the trigger operating finger and one for ‘up yours’.
In the need for societal acceptance of all humans as equals. We forget that a man can’t deliver a baby, and neither can a woman stay away from a menstrual cycle, which is her biological need. Men can do more laborious tasks cause they are well built, have the appendages that can be exercised and above all have lower emotional quotient than a woman who is a mother, a daughter, a sister and a child. The woman is strong, she is more diligent, more resilient, in most cases more systematic. Cause that’s her physiological build-up. She thinks more, is anxious more, worries more and digs into emotions more. She is more likely to display emotion publicly.
But to compare her with men is not only prejudicial against her but also totally unfair to her. She is absolutely perfect in her domain. We accepted her as a soldier. Gave her appointments that are still protected. Some of them in due course will break the shackles of being caged to policing or administrative jobs. But remember, they are a minority. While as men, they can be deployed anywhere, tasked however adverse the situation and more so ever, allows for risk taking. So the man vs woman debate has yet not ended and we find ourselves in another one involving transgender’s.
Now, coming to transgender’s. Who are trans genders? Are they all the palm clapping men dressed as women, trying to embezzle you at street corners for money. Gawdily dressed and chewing tobacco? Are they human waste that have no place in society and especially in class-based society where they are called HIJRAS. Do they live in ghettos, practice crime? Steal children and make them beggars? They pimp themselves to druggies and drunkards?
What are they?
I am posting an entire article by the American Psychological association for reference. We need to understand what trans genders are instead of broad brushing them into what we visualise due to Street experience.
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According to the APA Style guide, the term “transsexual” is largely outdated, but some people identify with it; this term should be used only for an individual who specifically claims it. While the term “transsexual” appears multiple times throughout this document, APA’s Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity is undertaking a systematic review of its use along with other terms.
Transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression, or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. Gender identity refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female or something else; gender expression refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice or body characteristics. “Trans” is sometimes used as shorthand for “transgender.” While transgender is generally a good term to use, not everyone whose appearance or behavior is gender-nonconforming will identify as a transgender person. The ways that transgender people are talked about in popular culture, academia and science are constantly changing, particularly as individuals’ awareness, knowledge, and openness about transgender people and their experiences grow.
What is the difference between sex and gender?
Sex is assigned at birth, refers to one’s biological status as either male or female, and is associated primarily with physical attributes such as chromosomes, hormone prevalence, and external and internal anatomy. Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for boys and men or girls and women. These influence the ways that people act, interact, and feel about themselves. While aspects of biological sex are similar across different cultures, aspects of gender may differ.
Various conditions that lead to atypical development of physical sex characteristics are collectively referred to as intersex conditions.
What are some categories or types of transgender people?
Many identities fall under the transgender umbrella. The term transsexual refers to people whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex. Often, transsexual people alter or wish to alter their bodies through hormones, surgery, and other means to make their bodies as congruent as possible with their gender identities.
This process of transition through medical intervention is often referred to as sex or gender reassignment, but more recently, it is also referred to as gender affirmation. People who were assigned female, but identify and live as male and alter or wish to alter their bodies through medical intervention to more closely resemble their gender identity are known as transsexual men or transmen (also known as female-to-male or FTM). Conversely, people who were assigned male, but identify and live as female and alter or wish to alter their bodies through medical intervention to more closely resemble their gender identity are known as transsexual women or transwomen (also known as male-to-female or MTF). Some individuals who transition from one gender to another prefer to be referred to as a man or a woman, rather than as transgender.
People who cross-dress wear clothing that is traditionally or stereotypically worn by another gender in their culture. They vary in how completely they cross-dress, from one article of clothing to fully crossdressing. Those who cross-dress are usually comfortable with their assigned sex and do not wish to change it. Cross-dressing is a form of gender expression and is not necessarily tied to erotic activity. Crossdressing is not indicative of sexual orientation. The degree of societal acceptance for cross-dressing varies for males and females. In some cultures, one gender may be given more latitude than another for wearing clothing associated with a different gender.
The term drag queens generally refers to men who dress as women for the purpose of entertaining others at bars, clubs, or other events. The term drag kings refers to women who dress as men for the purpose of entertaining others at bars, clubs, or other events.
Genderqueer is a term that some people use who identify their gender as falling outside the binary constructs of “male” and “female.” They may define their gender as falling somewhere on a continuum between male and female, or they may define it as wholly different from these terms. They may also request that pronouns be used to refer to them that are neither masculine nor feminine, such as “zie” instead of “he” or “she,” or “hir” instead of “his” or “her.” Some genderqueer people do not identify as transgender.
Other categories of transgender people include androgynous, multigendered, gender nonconforming, third gender, and two-spirit people. Exact definitions of these terms vary from person to person and may change over time, but often include a sense of blending or alternating genders. Some people who use these terms to describe themselves see traditional, binary concepts of gender as restrictive.
What is the relationship between gender identity and sexual orientation?
Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. Sexual orientation refers to an individual’s enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to another person, whereas gender identity refers to one’s internal sense of being male, female, or something else. Transgender people may be straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or asexual, just as nontransgender people can be. Some recent research has shown that a change or a new exploration period in partner attraction may occur during the process of transition. However, transgender people usually remain as attached to loved ones after transition as they were before transition. Transgender people usually label their sexual orientation using their gender as a reference. For example, a transgender woman, or a person who is assigned male at birth and transitions to female, who is attracted to other women would be identified as a lesbian or gay woman. Likewise, a transgender man, or a person who is assigned female at birth and transitions to male, who is attracted to other men would be identified as a gay man.
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The above paragraphs have come through by the association after a lot of studies and projects.
Transgender’s in the military therefore doesn’t normally mean people who would cross dress and be an absolutely obnoxious sight in military uniform. They necessarily do not have to be sidelined or ostracised due to their mind and body difference.
Could we employ them in the military? Yes, we could. Answer one question. Are the transgender’s less intelligent? Less laborious? Are they violent? Are they non conformists? Are they the ones that would be morally reprehensible? Are they a threat to soldiering? Is their sexual orientation or the way they think about themselves against military ethos? Do you think by having them as part of your team, he would leave his weapon or technical equipment and clap his way to victory?
Why do we in the military get so biased to a non-scientific manner of thinking. We have places and billets that would be tented by anyone who has the tech skill and the brains. s a transgender an unintelligent animal that needs to be abhorred? Do you think he or she is going to sway into office wearing oranges as breasts as depicted in Bollywood movies or maybe accentuate her hip line with bum pads?
Military standards of intelligence and physicals won’t be tampered with. They stay the same with a little bit of tweaking to facilitate equivalence. No one is going to make things easily acceptable. If a transgender has to join, he/ she has to go through the rigmarole of being fit and qualified enough.
I for once have worked with all kinds of intelligent military kinds and some blatant idiots and they were both men and women who couldn’t even hit a target at 100 metres without support or identify an enemy bunker from their own, people who never read books other than a GS pamphlet. Who would trip on their own two feet even during an evening stroll.
We have to understand that society is changing. Times are changing. I need a buddy beside me in war, who will lift my morale, fire his weapon alongside mine, give me medical aid when hit and also carry me to safety if I’m in danger. I don’t care whether it’s man, woman, transgender or animal, as long as he/ she is trained to deliver militarily. Combat, communications, technical skills in EME, engineers, and services is not a man alone service. Yes, there are caveats, but isn’t that there for everyone and in all walks of life. After all, if I have to build my house I will assign a mason to lay the foundation and the bricks, a plumber to do the plumbing, a carpenter for the wood work and a painter to paint the building. But they all are basically getting my house ready together.
I know many will argue upon the point cause this debate can keep going on and on. But please, for god sake transgender’s are not those that you see clapping at your car window saying ‘hai hai’ . As soon as you get that picture off your mind, you will find more relevance in the debate and required acceptance.
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