Background
On numerous
islands of the Pacific, under various names, there are people considered to be
neither men nor women but half-men/half-women. In French Polynesia, there is a
sociological and anthropological condition called RaeRae or Mahu. A RaeRae is a
man who behaves as and considers himself to be a woman. RaeRae and Mahu are
good examples of culture-bound transsexuality or cross-dressing. Being Mahu has
a cultural meaning, recognized in the history of Polynesian society, and cannot
be considered as a medical or psychiatric condition. Being RaeRae extends the
transformation to possible hormone therapy and surgery; the traditional social
role (education, tourism) of Mahu is retained but in some cases is influenced
by prostitution and at-risk homosexuality.
Bibliographic sources and
method
We conducted a literature search using several medical, social, and
anthropological bibliographic sources (MedLine, Google Scholar, PsycINFO,
DUMAS). We used the terms RaeRae, Mahu, Polynesian androphilia, and Polynesian
sexuality. We found 20 articles and theses. Some articles discuss a very
similar condition in Samoa (fa'afafine). In addition, Mahu seems to be a
derogatory term for a male homosexual or drag queen in the Hawaiian
Islands.
Results and contents
RaeRae and Mahu is broadly defined as men
with sweetness [OK?] or women who are prisoners of men's bodies. There is
evidence of their presence and social functions in ancient times. The arrival
of the missionaries and Christian morality resulted in the emergence of a new
moral and sexual order. RaeRae and Mahu remain present and visible today. They
are integrated into local professional and cultural life and are accepted, as
long as their sexuality remains unspoken and invisible, which is more difficult
for RaeRae. We describe the phenomenon and its context and the sociocultural
hypotheses. We retain a reference connected to tacit knowledge of Polynesian
sacrificial rites: Mahu did not undergo sacrifices the victims of which had to
be men.
A general discussion must be envisaged concerning the DSM-5, transgender identity and stigmatization. For instance, in Hawaii, people who identify as transgender continue to suffer high rates of violence, sexual assault and discrimination. The description contributes to an investigation of the limits of considering gender as binary; rather, it is a continuum not governed by the medicalization and psychologization of a cultural feature, which is also recognizable in other cultural areas including among the Amerindians. Studying RaeRae and Mahu in Polynesia means agreeing to confront the binary concept that structures and divides the world into two categories of gender and sex, male and female, just like grammatical gender in French. Examples from other cultures include the new half in Japan, muxe or muché among the Zapotecs of Tehuantepec, woubi in Côte d'Ivoire, femminielli in Italy, ladyboys or kathoeys in Thailand, natkadaw in Myanmar, hijra in India and Pakistan, khounta in Arab Islamic culture, and in Canada and the USA, agokwa among the Ojibwa, and ikoneta in the Illinois language. Mahu, or transgendered individuals and transvestites, were in fact viewed by the ancient Hawaiians as a normal element of the old social culture that preceded missionary days and American and French military missions. Mahu were not merely tolerated; they were regarded as a legitimate and contributory part of the ancient Polynesian community.
A general discussion must be envisaged concerning the DSM-5, transgender identity and stigmatization. For instance, in Hawaii, people who identify as transgender continue to suffer high rates of violence, sexual assault and discrimination. The description contributes to an investigation of the limits of considering gender as binary; rather, it is a continuum not governed by the medicalization and psychologization of a cultural feature, which is also recognizable in other cultural areas including among the Amerindians. Studying RaeRae and Mahu in Polynesia means agreeing to confront the binary concept that structures and divides the world into two categories of gender and sex, male and female, just like grammatical gender in French. Examples from other cultures include the new half in Japan, muxe or muché among the Zapotecs of Tehuantepec, woubi in Côte d'Ivoire, femminielli in Italy, ladyboys or kathoeys in Thailand, natkadaw in Myanmar, hijra in India and Pakistan, khounta in Arab Islamic culture, and in Canada and the USA, agokwa among the Ojibwa, and ikoneta in the Illinois language. Mahu, or transgendered individuals and transvestites, were in fact viewed by the ancient Hawaiians as a normal element of the old social culture that preceded missionary days and American and French military missions. Mahu were not merely tolerated; they were regarded as a legitimate and contributory part of the ancient Polynesian community.
Purchase full article [in French] at: http://goo.gl/KkQqTt
By: Stip E1.
1CHUM;
CR-IUSMM, CR-HSCM, Département de psychiatrie, Université de Montréal.
Sante Ment Que. 2015 Fall;40(3):193-208.
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv insight
