Silver / 2023 / Press / Feature Story

• Prize
  Silver in Press/Feature Story
• Photographer
  Shazia Khan, Denmark
• Studio
  shaz production
• Website
  http://www.shaz.dk/
• Instagram
  shazo1976

In Pakistan there is a tradition of 'Hijra', pronounced hijara, which are men in a different gender role. They feel feminine and dress in women's clothes, but are physically born as men. They have had a special status in society since ancient times. During the long reign of the Mughals, from the 16th century until the mid-19th century, hijras often held prominent positions at court and in society. When the colonizing English came to power, they could not find a category to place the hijra community in. Colonial rule was largely based on being able to divide the population into categories.