திருநங்கை
Tamil[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Compound of திரு (tiru, “respectable, respected, title similar to Sri/Mr./Ms.”) + நங்கை (naṅkai, “woman”); coined by activists in the 2000s "as a progressive, 'modern,' and 'authentically Tamil' identity in contrast to hijra".[1]
Pronunciation[edit]
Audio (file)
Noun[edit]
திருநங்கை • (tirunaṅkai)
Usage notes[edit]
This term, along with திருனர் (tiruṉar, “trans person”) and திருநம்பி (tirunampi, “trans man”) are considered the most respectful terms of reference among the Tamil Nadu transgender community. They were adopted by the government of Tamil Nadu between 2006 and 2020 upon the community's request as a replacement for the term அரவாணி (aravāṇi), which was considered derogatory and restricted to only trans women. In 2020, the government ordered the use of the term மூன்றாம் பாலினத்தவர் (mūṉṟām pāliṉattavar, “third gender”) instead, but transgender activists have stated that it is demeaning and othering.[2][3]
Descendants[edit]
- → English: thirunangai (“specifically for a trans woman of Tamil Nadu or movements pertaining to the community”)
References[edit]
- ^ Nataraj, Shakthi (2019) Trans-formations: Projects of Resignification in Tamil Nadu’s Transgender Rights Movement[1], University of California, Berkeley, page vi
- ^ “Trans activists slam TN govt for dropping 'thirunangai' and using 'third gender'”, in The News Minute[2], 2019 November 24, retrieved 2021-10-22
- ^ “Transgender Bill regressive, undermines rights, say transgender activists”, in The Times of India[3], Coimbatore, 2019 December 8, retrieved 2021-10-23