Fluid understanding of gender can be seen in many cultures around the world. In Native American cultures, people who do not fit the definitive understanding of female or male are seen as bridges between humans and the greater spirit. In Hindu scripture, hijra or kinner or third gender were seen as demi-gods and historically played important roles in royal palaces as entrusted advisors. Even in the Quran, there is an acknowledgment of gender ambiguity as part of Gods creation.

Over time, historical relationships around gender fluidity diminished, leaving a more rigid understanding of male and female. During the British colonization of India (which then included Pakistan and Bangladesh), rulers suppressed the fluidity of gender understanding and outlawed all such practices in their territories. But as with everything that becomes illegal, the third gender community went underground.

In India, there is no rigid understanding of what it means to be third gender, nor is there a rigid definition around those who self-identify as third gender. The community is casually referred to as the hijra and traditionally referred to as kinner. And the community is not limited to just people who want gender confirmation operations in fact, some dont want that at all. While some gender confirmation operations do happen, surgeries are usually limited to breast augmentation or genital augmentation surgery.

Indian society at large had continued its long relationship with the third gender, despite its outlaw. But the nature of the relationship deviated. Instead of being honored and incorporated into daily life, third gender were limited to the role of blessing babies and celebrating marriages. Other than that, they were denied jobs and dismissed in mainstream society, forcing many to retreat to prostitution and begging on the street.

Often rejected by their own families, the third gender community began to create self-identified families, led by a Guru or a leader who was also a third-gender. In these self-appointed families, they were treated as brothers and sisters, were protected, provided food and shelter, and taken care of both spiritually and physically. Still, they faced the health and welfare risks that come inherently from a life of begging and prostitution.