[❇ Abby ❇]

A pastor actually pointed this out to me. I didn't realize that Native Americans don't (didn't) restrict themselves to only two gender classes. They recognized and even exalted a third category called "two-spirits" because they embodied both male and female traits and were given special privileges and responsibilities. Read about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Spirit_identity_theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Spirit

Lately I've been wrestling with the gender categories our culture adheres to and how I don't think I fit in either of them very well. I identify MOST with females but there are some undeniably typically masculine traits I posses. Strangely, I've even been a little frustrated with our cultural definition of transgender. It seems like it's just a purgatory of sorts while we move from one gender to the other, whichever way we happen to be going but it's not a place you can reside in for very long. The two spirit view fits me a lot better and it requires no movement in either direction. However, because I identify more with female, I'd still like to get some anatomical repairs done. Thoughts anyone?

Thank you for posting this Kari.

Very interesting. I have not heard of the Native American "two-spirits" theory before.

I have read about various pacific island and Asian cultures that except and even celebrate third gender people.


Denita