by Nadine Inkster
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Western cultures often see sex and gender as separate but still strictly binary. However, this is not universal. Outside the Western, middle-class “WEIRD” context (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic), many societies embrace a broader view.
In fact, Indigenous gender diversity has been recognized across hundreds of cultures worldwide. For example, some communities honour not just two genders but a third, fourth, or even more. As a result, gender identities exist on a wider spectrum than Western binaries suggest.
These traditions are not new. Instead, they reflect longstanding cultural teachings and spiritual roles passed down through generations.
To highlight this global history, Independent Lens, in collaboration with Badly Licked Bear — an educator, writer, artist, and mutual aid worker — created an interactive map. This map documents more than 30 distinct cultures that recognize more than two genders. Therefore, it serves as a reminder that gender diversity is not a modern trend but a resilient part of human history.
Global Recognition of Gender Diversity
Samoa recognizes the gender identity of fa’afafine, an alternative to male and female. In parts of the Dominican Republic and Papua New Guinea, intersex births occur relatively frequently. The hijra of India function as a third gender, similar to Western transgender and intersex identities. Communities believe the hijra possess the power to bless or curse and often take on religious roles. Colonizers criminalized the hijra in 1871, and anti-hijra sentiments grew over time.
In Indonesia, the Buhis ethnic group recognizes three genders outside the binary: Calalai, Calabai, and Bissu, who hold spiritual roles. In Mexico, the Zapotec Indigenous people embrace muxes—people with male sexual characteristics who express a feminine identity. In Madagascar, families raise people assigned male at birth who display feminine preferences as girls, called Sakalava. Communities regard them as sacred and believe supernatural powers protect them.
Closer to Home – The Land called Turtle Island
Colonization VS Gender
European colonization imposed social and religious norms that suppressed Indigenous gender and sexual diversity. Colonial policies regulated reproductive rights and required kinship documentation based on two genders. These measures erased centuries of recognition for Indigenous gender diversity.
In 1990, Indigenous peoples coined the term Two-Spirit to challenge Western gender binaries and reconnect with their cultural traditions and roles.
Two-Spirit People of North America
Importantly, Two-Spirit is an umbrella term rather than a single identity. Today, Indigenous Nations use around 130 specific terms to describe sexuality and gender. In many communities, Two-Spirit individuals hold integral roles. They represent a broad array of sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions that extend beyond colonial and heteronormative norms.
In addition, many Indigenous cultures recognize a third gender that blends traits from both male and female identities. These individuals often serve as healers or spiritual workers. Despite centuries of suppression in Western societies, remnants of these traditions continue to endure.