Transgender Family Life Traumas in Pakistan

Abstract

This research paper is based on the Pakistani Transgender family life traumas and the unique type of settlement in which they live. It has been revealed that they are disowned by their families and live in a professional settlement with Gurus (mentors). They live all their lives without a legal intimate relationship, and hence, cannot have a family of their own. Data was collected through extensive in-depth interviews from 12 participants from two cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Transgenders in Pakistan lack a social support network, which is, otherwise, the core of a Pakistani family. 11 out of 12 participants were living outside a family setting, and all of them left their family homes before the age of 12 due to maltreatment and being excluded by the family. None of them was married or had a legal physical or intimate relationship. 9 of the participants live with a Guru, a mentor, who protects them and provides work (dancing and prostitution) using his social capital. All of them were sexually attracted towards boys whereas, they were recognized by their families as boys at the time of birth. They live in a group of individuals who share same characteristics lead by the Guru and the main purpose of this settlement is financial and physical security. However, in most cases, they are controlled by the Guru and used as a commodity to entertain the binary genders through dancing, illegal (forced) sexual assaults, and amusement.