DefinePK

Abstract

Transgender people in most parts of the world continue to suffer discrimination and exclusion and are even denied their basic rights as well as acceptance in society. The present work additionally covers some issues of a novel by Rao and Joshi Me Hijra, Me Laxmi including sexual abuse, the question of identity, and the violation of their rights. Being qualitative research, the paper relies on close reading and the author’s writing, discussing the novel in context with Queer Theory. The study shows that the transgender characters in the novel suffer sexual abuse, social exclusion structural vulnerability, and violence in the same manner as the actual TG population. These representations rather present the playful effect and stress the psychological and affective consequences of social rejection as well as the search for identity and acceptance. The study therefore stresses the importance of raising the knowledge and tolerance of society towards such people as well as the recognition of their rights. This is why it has encouraged the telling of stories like Me Hijra, and Me Laxmi, the use of which could help create awareness and instigate social transformation. In so doing, this research extends the Conversation on Gender Diversity and enhances our understanding of why Transgender Persons must not be discriminated against in society.