Flexibility towards Gender Ascription in African, American Indian and Some Other Societies - Essay Example

Hence, in comparison, the Western societies seem to be comparatively rigid in the sense that they have only two genders that are ‘man’ and ‘woman’ (Lorber 3). What is also interesting is that some American Indians have a third gender that is ‘female men’ and the individuals who are affiliated to this gender are not required to imitate the ways of men in the matters of dress or in other obvious ways to acquire the social status of a man (Lorber 3). Rather it is often their economic potential and abilities that lead to them being ascribed the status of a man. In contrast, in Western societies, there also exist transsexuals and transvestites. However, there is no provision for the ascription of a third gender to them. Rather such individuals are required to imitate the persona of the gender to which they aspire, either through surgery or in superficial aspects like dress up, way of talking, makeup, etc.  So the Western societies are in a way, more rigid than the already discussed African or American Indians societies.