berdache

1 9.9

An offensive old word for some Indigenous gender roles and male prostitutes that people no longer use

noun
/bərˈdæʃ/

Slur

: [término ofensivo y anticuado para personas indígenas con identidades de género diversas]

In some Native American cultures, a berdache held a unique position, blending roles traditionally assigned to men and women.

Examples

In all cases, a berdache was a valued and important member of the tribe, contributing greatly to its success and ability to survive.

Academic text (2003)
Historically, the term berdache referred to individuals who challenged conventional gender roles within their communities.
The important role of the berdache in many Native American nations provides a useful example.

Academic text (2003)
Berdache often entered into marriages with other men in the tribe and sometimes with female warriors who had "proven" to be men through their fighting skills.

Academic text (2003)
Although the anthropological study of the "berdache" in traditional Native cultures abounds, critical insight into gender variance from Native perspectives has yet to be articulated in an academic setting.

Academic text (1995)
Many tribes honored the berdache for their spiritual insight and social contributions, reflecting diverse gender identities.

Surface Forms

berdache singular

berdaches plural

Etymology

Berdache comes from French bardache, which in turn came from an Arabic or Persian word meaning 'young male servant' or 'kept boy'. Because the word carried ideas of slavery and prostitution when European writers used it to label Indigenous gender roles, berdache is now seen as offensive and not appropriate.