EDITORIAL.- The photographer Núria López Torres of whom we published a few months ago the report "Núria López Torres and the bodies without borders", Has just presented his latest work that deals with the "muxes", individuals who, in the Itzmo de Tehuantepec in southern Mexico, are an active part of the Zapotec culture integrated into society as a third gender.
The outstanding work of López Torres manages to combine background and form masterfully. A beautiful photographic compositions that overflow message and content inviting us to reflect on gender identity beyond the current situation.
Because the concept of gender identity transcends the sexual orientation of the person and is basically shaped as a social and cultural construction. Neither all societies, nor all cultures, nor in all historical periods have lived the acceptance of the third gender in the same way. In some societies, this concept has been reformulated to cover their own needs as a group. That is the case, still in force, of the "muxes" in Mexico.
These people fulfill a specific role and functions in their society, both in the socio-cultural life and in the family environment and are respected by them. Núria explains it to us in the introduction to her work:
"There is a peculiarly permissive attitude towards homosexuality, effeminacy and transvestism in this part of the state of Oaxaca. Some mothers educate one of their sons in traditional female roles, so that they act as a single daughter who maintains and cares for the parents in their old age. The "muxe" has a significant role in the construction of male sexuality, since young men do not have access to women, who usually reserve their virginity for marriage, so it is usual for a heterosexual male to start in their First sexual relations with a "muxe". These relationships are not seen as homosexual practices, as long as man is the active part of the relationship. "
It is evident that what has maintained the legitimacy of the muxes in Zapotec culture has been the specific weight of the feminine in their societies and the strength of the concept of ethnic identity. However the modernization that is experiencing the society of Itzmo, is giving rise to the penetration of marginality and violence towards these individuals who, to date, were phenomena unknown in their culture.
I hope the diffusion of the work of Núria López Torres, that you can enjoy in the link http://www.nurialopeztorres.com/genero-y-sexualidad/muxes/ contribute to the respect and permanence of this tradition.
Editorial Gayles.tv
Online TV
I love this kind of cultural reporting, very interesting.