I wish more people recognized how much the gender binary is rooted in colonialism. Prior to their colonization, Africans and other indigenous people not only had spaces for trans, genderfluid, and non binary people, but they were often venerated within the society... https://twitter.com/anishinaa_gay/status/1286505204054142976

The concept of a gender binary as it exists today (male v female) was an introduced concept. For many cultures, gender was not limited to sexual organs. Religious systems often allowed for and encouraged diff gender expression. Additionally, there were more than just two genders

For example, African deities and spirits in the Vodou framework can present as feminine, masculine, agender, trans, or genderfluid. In Vodou spirit possessions, women can temporarily “turn into” men by being inhabited by a masculine spirit and vice versa.

In Native American cultures, two-spirit (a sort of third and sometimes fourth gender representing both masculine and feminine spirits) and intersex individuals would serve important roles in traditional religious ceremonies

Even gender roles and the societal value of women were heavily influenced by colonization. Traditionally, female agricultural labor and reproductive ability were so highly valued in Africa that husbands had to pay a Brideswealth to the bride’s family for their loss of income.

Alternatively in Europe, the custom was for the bride’s family to pay the husband a Dowry because it was assumed that he’d be taking on a financial responsibility who couldn’t provide for herself.

Some places I didn’t mention that also had these spaces include cultures in pre-colonial India, Oaxaca (Zapotec), Pacific Islands, the Philippines, Iran, Southeast Asia, the Malayo-Polynesian kingdoms, etc.

Also, so many people have been asking for more reading material on this topic. Personally, I wrote this thread after doing research on the Vodou religious framework but there is so much more scholarship out there.

Some titles I am adding to my reading list that you should too:

African Intimacies by Neville Hoad
Gender Epistemologies in Africa by Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí
Transgender Warriors by Leslie Feinberg

Please, feel free to add to this list.