berdache

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“
These Native American examples are particularly interesting, due to the wealth of sociological literature from the colonial era regarding the study of the "berdache."

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Definitions (2)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun Usage Problem Among certain Native American peoples, a person, usually a male, who assumes the gender identity and is granted the social status of the opposite sex.
  2. usage note
    Due to the derogatory implications implicit in the etymology of berdache, contemporary Native Americans have suggested that its scholarly use be discontinued. Among the alternatives in current use, the most widely employed is two-spirit. Other scholars use specific native terms, such as winkte (from Lakota) or nadle (from Navajo), or else use a literal translation, such as "man-woman,” of a native word.

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Examples (6)

  • Amerindian tribes of the Great Plains, on the other hand, had an institution called berdache which provided a comfortable and respected niche for such people. —  AnalogSFF,April2008
  • These Native American examples are particularly interesting, due to the wealth of sociological literature from the colonial era regarding the study of the "berdache." —  Progressive U - The new media voice for students
  • From the prehistoric rock paintings left by the San people in modern day Zimbabwe to Native American berdache who were venerated for their "Two-Spirit" orientation, homosexuals have existed in all times and in all cultures.
  • Until recently I would have used the generic anthropological term berdache - but I recently found out that it is considered disrespectful by most Native Americans - and I am truly sorry for my use of this word in the past. —  Thomas Paine's Corner
  • See "berdache" and "transgender."
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Etymologies (1)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. North American French, from French bardache, catamite, from Italian dialectal bardascia, from Arabic bardaj, slave, from Persian bardah, prisoner, from Middle Persian vartak, from Old Iranian *varta-; see welə- in Indo-European roots.
 

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