"Muxe" is a Zapotec term believed to be derived from the spanish word for woman, "mujer." This third gender is apart of the culture of the Zapotec people who live in the southern state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Many families celebrate having a child who identify as Muxe. Muxe have a certain flexibility when it comes to social roles and occupations, as they can work in jobs that cisgender women aren't aloud to and supply income for the family. They can also serve as a caretaker for younger siblings and aging parents.
It is believed that the vestida style of dressing (wearing female clothes) have become more popular in recent history, whereas only a few muxes choose to dress in the the pintada style (wearing male clothes). Muxes can act effeminately, choose to wear dresses and makeup, just makeup, etc. Only a few choose to surgically augment their physical features. Just as Muxes have unique ways in expressing their gender, they are not expected to identify with one specific sexuality.
In terms of attraction to romantic and sexual partners, muxes do not identify with the typical western identities of "gay," "straight," or "bisexual." Some have male partners, others marry women, and some date other muxes.
Every November in Juchitan, Oaxaca, there is held a four day celebration of muxes and their friends and family called Vela de Las Intrepidas, or "Vigil of the Intrepids."
Around 5,000 men, women, and muxes gather to celebrate each year, and at the end of the four day celebration a muxe is crowned "queen." The tradition began 40 years ago as a reunion between the older generation of muxes who wanted to celebrate their lives together.
Interviews of Muxes attending the Velas De Las Intrepidas
Though muxes and transgender people are two different communities that originate from separate cultures, they both face similar challenges. In the United States there are still ongoing debates about whether people who identify as transgender should be allowed to use the bathroom of their choice, and in some states including North Carolina there are already existing restrictions in place.
Juchitan is a relatively accepting town, however people who identify as muxe face discrimination in other more westernized cities and towns. For example, the Technological Institute of the Isthmus recently enacted a policy that denied muse students access to women's restrooms.
This brings up the question of whether or not someone can identify as both muxe and transgender. Muxes of younger generations are more likely to agree that someone can identify as both, whereas older muxes are more likely disagree. For the older generations of muxes, being muxe is an essential part of their culture and closely tied to their religion and ancient traditions, whereas the identity of transgender is considered a western import and a passing fad.
Sources:
Http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHTK-2W11Vh1V4uwofOfR4w. YouTube. YouTube, 16 Nov. 2016. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.
Lacey, Marc. "A Lifestyle Distinct: The Muxe of Mexico." The New York Times. The New York Times, 06 Dec. 2008. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.
Cocking, Lauren. "A Brief History Of Muxe, Mexico's Third Gender." Culture Trip. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.
Chiñas, Beverly (1995). Isthmus Zapotec attitudes toward sex and gender anomalies, pp. 293-302 in Stephen O. Murray (ed.), "Latin American Male Homosexualities" Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press
"The Striking Muxe: Mexico's Third Gender." Gay News, LGBT Rights, Politics, Entertainment. N.p., 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.
"In Mexico, Mixed Genders And 'Muxes'" NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.
Burnett, Victoria. "Bathroom Debate Complicates Mexican Town’s Acceptance of a Third Gender." New York Times. N.p., 22 June 2016. Web. <https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/23/world/americas/mexico-muxes-bathroom-debate.html?_r=0>.