Pakistan

60% Pakistanis do not want to befriend eunuchs

Agencies/express June 19, 2010

KARACHI: More than 55% of the Pakistani population says that transgendered persons (eunuchs) should have a special quota in educational institutes and offices, although 60% would not like to be friends with them.

The figures are the result of a survey conducted by Gallup Pakistan.

The question “Some people believe that educational institutes and offices should have a specific/ special quota for eunuchs so that like other people they can get educated and earn a living while others do not think so. What is your opinion?” got a 55% positive answer, 25% negative answer, while 20% stated they did not know.

The follow up question “If an eunuch wants to be friends with you, will you agree or not?” got a 60% negative and a 14% positive response overall. According to the surveyors, only 10% of women responded in the positive, while the positive result stood at 17% for men.

The survey also revealed that willingness to be friends with eunuchs also differed by age. It was higher at 21% among people aged 51 and above, while the under 30 population accounted for 13%.

Only recently has the Supreme Court ordered that the transgender community be surveyed, given NICs which specify their gender as ‘other’, given small loans and have access to medical facilities. These ID cards are supposed to be the first step in the transformation of the transgender community from beggars and sex workers on the fringes of society to industrious citizens employed as tailors, beauticians, cooks and health workers contributing to the nation.

The transgender community has also been in the media light in recently due to the Raani and Iqbal episode.

COMMENTS (8)

Cd Admin | 13 years ago | Reply The discrimination based on their class and gender makes the hijra community one of the most disempowered groups in Indian society too. Soon it will come down and every one will treat hijra as friends. Admin http://indiacrossdressers.com

Zain Abbass | 13 years ago | Reply The quota is a bad system that needs to be ended because it prevents the best minds from taking the position. I am also concerned that the youth is more intolerant than the older generation on this issue.

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Nina | 13 years ago | Reply They also are Allah's creation and we should treat them with love and respect. However, I don't like the fact that they dress up as females and emphasize their gender. Why not just behave normally and integrate into society.

Ateek (Free-Gaza) | 13 years ago | Reply We're living in a very hypocritic and self centered society for we are not generous enough to accept that every one else has a right to live a peaceful life too, we've belived and implied that hindus and christians from the lower class (i really dont agree with these kind of classifications but im kind of obligated to use that word for what we have trend to use for under priviliged) "BHANGI's", We have decided that unisex are obliged to beg or be sex workers or to dance in the weddings and being treated so coldly, we have decided and allocated the role status and freedoms of Qadyanis that they have to sign and take oaths anyway and so do we have to prove that we are not them, this society is at the lowest point of moral deprivity and we must realize and accept that, but we wont, because we have decided and have faith to belive in that "This is not us" but let me say and i am daring enough to say that "Yes we are morally and ethically deprived people".

Rana Bilal | 13 years ago | Reply Our society is very intolerant about LGBT Community. it shouldn't be like that. they are normal people like everyone else. they have the right to spend their life as well like any other person. the western society needs to be admired as they are very tolerant in this respect. we don't need to judge ppl according to their gender, sexuality, religion, nationality as the world is a global village now. we need to be more and more tolerant.....

amjad salim | 13 years ago | Reply our society is highly intolerant,prejudiced and bigoted.We are afraid of what is different & we all want to conform to the traditional,stereotyped images when it comes to religion,gender etc.All the things that are claimed by us to be wrong with the western world but atleast they are a million times more tolerant of ppl of different religions,races,beliefs.There one has freedom to think what one wants and the state does not enforce perforce a specific agenda on its citizens by law.

Faryal Tahir | 13 years ago | Reply Well quota is fine intially, but they are a part of us and should be made available to open contests too. We need to think above genders or transgenders.

Dr. Adnan | 13 years ago | Reply I believe that the trans-gender people are also a part of our society, Our people are far too intolerant about the LGBT society. I think they have the right to Study, Health Care, Jobs etc so they can earn themselves a honest living, instead of involving themselves in Sex Trade, Begging etc.

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