This article explores the transgender community's struggles and triumphs in breaking societal barriers of gender perception, with a focus on Karnataka, India. Challenging binary categorizations of 'male' and 'female,' it examines the fluidity of gender identity through cultural, psychological, and legal lenses. Drawing on fieldwork, mythological narratives, and traditions like Jogathi and Jogappa, the paper critiques linguistic hierarchies, colonial stigmatization, and patriarchal norms that marginalize trans individuals. It highlights the 2014 Supreme Court ruling as a pivotal shift, affirming self-determined gender and enabling rights to education, employment, and welfare. However, persistent challenges such as social compulsion, violence, and economic exclusion are addressed, alongside development programs like Garima Greh and scholarships. Personal stories of activists like Akkai Padmashali and Manjamma Jogathi illustrate resilience and advocacy. The article calls for expanded scholarly discourse in Kannada literature to foster inclusive human rights, deconstructing conformity and envisioning gender as a continuum of choice and self-realization. Ultimately, it advocates for ethical recognition of diverse embodiments to transform societal attitudes and policies.
Dr. Shailaja I Hiremath (Thu,) studied this question.