5 Comments on “Salon Waria”

1. Marie Antoinette Says:
   April 10th, 2007 at 9:51 am

   I am sure the good people of Aceh will go right back to the current arrangement, for without waria, there will be a lack of Sharia-certified gender-certified hairstylists.
   In any case, these people have a right to be recognized as women, with or without an operation or ID card. Can Indonesia Matters please respect that right by referring to them as “she” and “her”, instead of the slightly confused-sounding “her/his” in this post.

2. Aluang anak Bayang Says:
   April 10th, 2007 at 4:56 pm

   Mas Hassan, I would like to know your stance on this issue. Under shariah, would they be allowed to continue on with their occupation or do we have to string them up?

3. Suhada Says:
   April 12th, 2007 at 1:29 pm

   Assalamualaikum. Traditionally we believe that God created man and woman. Transvestites wasn’t included. That explains why we oftentimes disregard or even despise them.

   Furthermore most of the religions are nurtured within the realm of paternalistic psyche. That even put the transvestites in a more critical situation. They become the object of disgust, hatred, fear and even violence. To be harassed has become their daily basis.

   Nowadays we have to criticize this matter wisely. I am a student of a Medical School in UNAIR. I remember, once, my lecturer — Dr. Onny Pietersono, a genetic expert and an andrologist — gave a lecture about the connection between genetic feature with one’s sexual identity. It is said that according to the latest research certain genetic defect can cause sexual identity disorientation. One can be physically male but hormonally and psychologically tend to be feminine due to the genetic defect, vice versa.

   Female chromosome is XX and the male is XY. But in some severe cases we can find XYY chromosome that makes the person became super agressive, hyper-virile. We call such case as super male. In the other hand we can find a person with XXY chromosomes. It makes the person a feminine male or masculine female. Gynaecomasty or rudimentary penile is common to be found. In some milder cases particular genetic defect can repress the testosterone within a man and risen the activity of his estrogen. That causing the person to become more feminine. both physically and psychologically.

   Thus we must reevaluate the traditional point of view which often times consider that transvestites is a matter of sexual identity choice. We think that those transvestites can be a real man if they want it to be. And we give them religious sermons. Hopefully they will repent and leave their sinful way of life. We indoctrinate them that in front of Allah they are man. Then they should become a real man in every sense.

   But the problem is that it is not just the matter of choice. Their case is not just ethical case. We have to go beyond that traditional point of view. We have to leave our simplified paradigm.
   The matter is complex in it’s manner. It takes deeper thoughts and wiser considerations.
   First of all we have to let aside our paternalistic point of view. Let us respect the gender equality. Be it man or woman, we are equal. Second to none in the presence of Allah. Then we will re-read and recomprehend our faith and our cultural value and norm based on that perspective. The egalitarian perspective.

   Then we should respect the transvestites. We have to respect their choice. We have to be able to be empathetic to their condition. We have to understand their difficulties. Let them choose to be a man or a woman. It is theirs not us to determine what is best for them.

   At last, God is Great. His compassion knows no limit. His love pour evenly to every soul. Be it a man or a women. Or even transvestites. We are equal in the presence of The Almighty. Wassalam.

4. steve garner Says:
   November 10th, 2007 at 12:35 pm

   It is a shame that some people can only look at the outer appearence and not at who the person is inside. If you believe in any God we were all created by him. We are all different in some way and it is about time we started to recognize and accept our differences. We only serve to isolate and allienate each other when we let anything, even religion come between us. All religions teach us about loving each other, why can’t we learn this and come together as human beings.

5. dina Says:
   August 13th, 2010 at 5:41 pm

   according to the prophet muhammad himself mukhannath are not to be harmed

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