Abstract

Before European colonialism, inhabitants of Guyana were Amerindians scattered across the “land of many waters” (Glasgow 1970:6; Rabe 2005:5). During the era of imperialism (1499-Guyanese Independence May 1966), the Dutch and British utilized indigenous and African slave labor as well as indentured servants from Asia to harvest cash crops (Glasgow 1970:131; Whitehead 2010:53). The British brought indentured servants across the kala pani, or dark water, from India to Guyana under the pretense of a better life. Under the harsh restrictions of colonial life, the Indian indentured laborers, negatively referred to as coolies, were culturally suppressed. Virtually, all aspects of daily life and institutions were altered, including such apparently natural areas of social life as gender. This thesis examines the possible existence of hijra in early 21st century Indo-Guyanese society as a third gender identity from India, that survived the transatlantic separation from India, colonial oppression and postcolonial suppression (Bockrath 2003:83; Nanda 1998; Reddy 2003: 163-189; Reddy 2005a:256-266).

Thesis Completion

2010

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Howard, Rosalyn

Degree

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Degree Program

Anthropology

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences;Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0020605

Language

English

Rights

Written permission granted by copyright holder to the University of Central Florida Libraries to digitize and distribute for nonprofit, educational purposes.

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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Anthropology Commons

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