Transvestites (lakuran from women and men) or wadam (lakuran from the word air and adam) are men who prefer to play the role of women in their daily life. They are sexually male (having male genitals), but they express their gender identity as women. The presence of transvestites has been noted for a long time in history and has different positions in every society. However, not all transvestites can be associated as homosexuals. The choice of being a transvestite has nothing to do with their biological (sexual) condition, but rather relates to their "need" to express their gender identity.
The designation of bencong or sissy is also imposed on transvestites and is characteristic. However, the term connotes negative and is roughly abusive. While priawan terminology is the opposite of transvestites, ie men who are biologically women, whether transition or not. On February 16, 2015 Priawan Indonesia declared Indonesian Priawan Association, as a forum and network of inter-prijani and information center about Indonesian priawan.
Generally, transvestites work in the informal sector such as singing, becoming salon employees, masseuse and others. In some big cities, such as Yogyakarta for example, often found transvestites singing in red lights, in roadside stalls, hincha in the market. The general public even associates transsexual jobs as Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) because of their night-time habits.
However, both the identity of the transvestites and the jobs they are working with, are often considered negative by society. The transgender gender identity is considered to violate God's nature until the state, through the MUI, issues a fatwa that the existence of waria is haram. Negative stereotype addressed to transvestites is not uncommon there is a fruitful act of violence. Not a few transvestites who have experienced violence, both physical and verbal, while doing a job or doing other activities superti follow the seminar.
The Indonesian people are generally in an environment with a heteronormative framework that is the foundation. The Framework believes that there are only two sexual identities along with the gender constructs that follow, ie men and women. According to the skeleton, men should naturally pair up with women and vice versa. When other gender identity emerges outside of men and women (such as transvestites), it will be considered abnormal, strange, and perverted. Moreover, when the transvestite is also a gay lover, the negative stereotype will be increasingly addressed to them. The heteronormative frame becomes the beginning of the emergence of various negative stereotypes and the abusive treatment addressed by the community to transvestites.
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