Why is it that in classical Hindu thought there are 6 genders whereas we in the West recognize only 2?

Question

I believe I am thinking of what the Kama Sutra describes though I'm not 100% certain because it is many years since I came across the idea and the exact source eludes me now. The description may very well have been of "types" of men and women but I do remember clearly that at the time I definitely equated what was being described with gender in my own mind. That may just have been my own personal interpretation.

Also, it was never my intention to make Hinduism or Hindus look like anything. I was simply asking an honest question here.

Answer 1

No, the caste system has nothing to do with gender. There are multiple genders, as one of the respondents explained, sex and gender are not the same thing. SAGE, Sex And Gender Education (Australia) is teaming up with other groups to try and change the wording on an UN document to [protect the rights of all people] instead of just all men and women. There are some members of the UN whose cultures have always recognized that the gender binary system, which we in the west take for granted, is flawed. And to that idiot who said there are only two sexes as God created them, have you ever heard of hermaphrodites? This is hard physical evidence of diversity.

Answer 2

Not 6 genders but a number of types of people. They follow a caste system. It is something someone is born into, not by choice.

1. Brahmin-The priests and religious people.
2.Kshatriya-Rulers and warriors.
3.Vaishya-Farmers, Merchants, and Traders

The first three of this group have been born twice.
e.g. "re-incarnated"

4.Shudra-Servants to the upper castes, also known as peasants.

#4 and #5 have not been born twice, and are not of Aryan descent.

5.Untouchables-People who clean latrines, and have the dirtiest of jobs. Actually outside of the caste system.

The Hindu people are notoriously bigoted, or should I say, believing where you're from determines your future. They do not believe in self determination, or free will.

Answer 3

Actually, there are several Native American tribes who also recognize more then two genders.

Gender is different from sex. There are only two sexes in humans, male and female.

A gender is social terms refers to a social role. It's hard for people from one culture, especially one with only two genders to understand the concept of multiple roles inside and between the sexes, but in certain cultures they do exist.

It's starting to happen in American culture too, for example, there are now many women who work just as much as the man in the household, and there are others who stay at home to take care of the home/children. Those are two different social roles within one sex, and could be anthropologically classified as different genders. This was a crude example, as the roles of genders are usually more complex then that, but you get the idea.

Think socially, not sexually.

Answer 4

In the Hindu religion there are not 6 genders but their are 6 types of people. These people were described by chakras, the type of personality and health they were in. But there were only 2 genders.

Answer 5

1. Male brain -male body 2. Female brain -female body
3.Male brain - female body 4.Female brain- male body
5. Nuetral brain-male body 6. Neutral brain -female body

Hows that for a guess?

Answer 6

We aren't Hindus and they aren't Americans. Why should we worry about their beliefs or they about ours.

Believe it or not there are people in the world who have never heard of us. And they are none the worse for it.

Answer 7

I do not know, but I plan to look into it now. Thanks! And as far as biblical teachings, I'm all for it, but you don't have to blow off entertaining others ideas. I find it quite interesting.

Answer 8

There are only two genders. God created man and woman alike. To help each other. Adam and Eve were the first people on the earth. Marriage was created for man and woman only. Not for homesexuals. Period! There are not 6 genders, never will be.

Answer 9

i know some hindus. they, like us muslims/christians, condemn strongly the "gayness".

Answer 10

6 genders??????What????Let me guess, male, female, lesbian, homo, hermaphrodite,and neuter???? Get real, there is male and female, period! Are you pulling our leg about Hindus believing this??