EUNUCH PROSTITUTION

It is thus clear that the third gender in Pakistan is for sure not accepted till now. They are recognized to exist but are discriminated against. A lot of people raise their voices and say that ‘they are also human beings and should be given the opportunity to lead a normal life’. And then it is the same people who use and abuse them and exploit them in the worst manners for their own satisfaction. This brings us to the shameful but very much there problem of our society, eunuch prostitution. This thing is very common in Pakistan, primarily Lahore. Late at night, one can see these eunuchs standing at bus stops in the markets and in the very famous Red Light area. Some of them keep waiting for their clients, the other attracting men. Their clients are ‘normal’ men, who allow themselves both a wife and a hijra. Some even have longtime lovers, who say that hijras are not real men, they don’t have that essence. Not only this, girls as young as 12 years roam those streets carrying bottles of perfumed oil, offering to give a massage for as little as Rs. 50. It seems as if they are enjoying it, they are happy with the way it all works. But a deeper look into their lives and history reveals that things are a lot different from what they seem to be. These are eunuch and transgenders who are shunned by their families and who live under the constant threat of abuse and exploitation. These are those individuals who we blame for polluting our society but have we ever thought why they do this? None of them are given any job opportunities. They are barely treated as human beings. They have no voice. Our society is so ignorant, conservative and intolerant towards there sexual minorities that they can never come to peace with them. So in such suffocating conditions, what options do we leave them with? For sure, they do not have a choice than to indulge in such sexual activities and earn a living or to beg around. 2% of the total eunuchs are indulged in prostitution by their own will.

This is not just the only reason for being involved in prostitution. When eunuchs or transgenders are born in a family, they are neither accepted by males nor by females of their family, for the reason that they belong to the third kind and people around them cannot accept them. Some parents feel that they might improve if they are married off, but that only ends up in a bigger disaster. They enjoy having sex with females but they frequently urge to have sex with a male. With the woman, they are active partner but they constantly desire to be the passive partner and the only option they are left with is to have anal sex.

Another misfortune with eunuchs is that the males in their society recognize them and find them a as a good source of having sex. Not many girls are available and men in our communities are so frustrated that they use the ‘third kind’. If there is a reaction, it is called rape. If they survive, they go through many psychological changes and discover a lot of things. Firstly, they learn that they are attracted to mean and this satisfies their feminine soul. Secondly, they realize that they can have sex like this with a man. This causes a reaction then and they further abuse men in the same manner, they avenge their harassment and take out their aggression. Some, likewise, adopt it as a profession.

After facing the concept of prostitution by eunuchs and transgenders, one is forced to ponder over the fact that who are the people responsible for their sexual abuse? Regarding this question we went to many eunuchs and they said that they are exploited by homosexuals who pick them up from different places and pay them for a one night stand. “It’s the men in uniforms ho exploit us the most”, said another eunuch. “People think we are public property to be used and abused at will. I once resolved to never go with someone I was suspicious of, but that’s hardly a choice, since we can’t fight these men”. One group said, “It’s the policemen who harass us the most, who pick us up at their will, use and abuse us, and snatch away our money”.

Anyone would find this shocking because everyday, we are shouting at the top of our lungs that government should protect them, but how can government take any steps when public servants themselves are corrupt and are encouraging such shameful activities?

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