Meet the 'Muxes', an Integral Part of Oaxaca's Zapotec History and Culture The Yucatan Times
go to original March 19, 2014

VICE: Mexico's 'Third Gender' of the Zapotec Culture (VICE)

In the Zapotec culture of the state of Oaxaca (Southern Mexico), a muxe (also spelled “muxhe”) is a physically male individual who dresses and behaves in ways otherwise associated with the female gender; they may be seen as a third gender. Some marry women and have children while others choose men as sexual or romantic partners.

According to anthropologist Lynn Stephen, a muxe “may do certain kinds of women’s work such as embroidery or decorating home altars, but others do the male work of making jewelry.”

The word muxe is thought to derive from the 16th-century Spanish word for “woman”, mujer.

The first thing most people notice about muxes (pronounced MOO-shay) is that they appear to be men dressed as women. Some have had their breasts enhanced, others have nose jobs. But most wear long hair, dresses, and some makeup.

The majority of muxes start young, in their teens, and are trained in womanly ways by family and friends, taking their place in a Zapotec cultural tradition that predates the Spanish colonizers. Now their traditional role has become that of caretaker.

Read the rest at The Yucatan Times

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!