Beyond Margins: Unveiling the Struggles of the Transgender Community

This study draws attention to the marginalization of transgender individuals in Haryana, focusing on three distinct groups: cultural practitioners, sex workers, and beggars. To gain a thorough understanding of their circumstances, 13 in-depth interviews were conducted, yielding three primary themes. Firstly, the study highlighted the scarcity of societal awareness regarding gender identity and gender expression. Gender is a social construct influenced by cultural factors like norms, attitudes, and behaviors, while gender identity refers to an individual's unique, deeply felt sense of gender, which may or may not align with their birth sex. Sexuality encompasses gender, sex, sexual orientation, pleasure, and reproduction. Second, the study found that social constraints stemming from stigmatized identities significantly impact transgender individuals. Both school dropouts and those with educational qualifications face difficulties in securing employment, leading them to engage in cultural activities or resort to prostitution. Incomplete documents and government identities prevent them from getting facilities provided by the government. Third, the study revealed a lack of acceptance in both family and society due to heteronormativity. Transgender individuals often face abuse, violence, and discrimination in their own families and society. The findings of the study shed light on the issues faced by transgenders even after getting rights they are still struggling to be the part of mainstream society and live a respected and dignified life. It highlights the importance of extensive awareness campaigns and legal amendments due to the insufficient societal acceptance and weak organizational framework.