The prerogative of the brave: Hijras and sexual citizenship after orientalism

摘要

In this article I discuss the complex figure of the ‘Hijra’, a sexually dissident actor in Indian politics that might offer inroads into thinking through sexual citizenship after orientalism. This article aims to trouble spectacles of vulnerability that often apprehend sexed/gendered bodies in the global south as consummate victims, seen to be perpetually grieving on world stages. I suggest that the embodied and confrontational performances of Hijras in public space might offer an affront to such narratives. I point to examples of sexual politics articulated by Hijras that gesture to a sexual citizenship after, beyond, and outside orientalism. This article questions occidentalist frameworks that undercut contemporary sexual/gendered politics and suggests that there should perhaps be a scholarly prerogative to reframe the concepts of desire.View full textDownload full textKeywordscolonialism, temporality, euro-centrism, sexuality, citizenship, feminist theoryRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13621025.2012.698496