Vrajnyt
| вражныт | |||||||
| Pronunciation | [vrɐdʑɲɪt] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Eunuchs, intersex and transgender people | ||||||
| Classification | Gender identity | ||||||
| Other terms | |||||||
| Synonyms | Vrańik | ||||||
| Associated terms | Rvandi, Transgender | ||||||
| Demographics | |||||||
| Culture | Asik | ||||||
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| Legal information | |||||||
| Recognition | Yes (Ukrek) | ||||||
| Protection | None | ||||||
In Asik cultures, Vrajnyt are eunuchs, homosexual and effeminate men, transgender people, and intersex people. Vrajnyt [vrɐdʑɲɪt] is the Yazim word for the historic third gender, whereas the term Vrańik [ʋrɑɲiɪ̯k] is used in Ukrek. Typically, vrajnyt is a gender identity that is performed rather than assigned, unlike male and female, which are generally assigned at birth, though this has exceptions. Vrajnyt has historically had a number of translations, ranging from hermaphrodite, to gender deviant, and transgender. Analogous third-gender traditions in other Yasgan cultures include the Rvadni in Dhimrai and Wråschåns in Tschintiessteiss.
Vrajnyt are legally recognized in Ukrek as a third gender, but not in Yazimret, where there is no legal gender. Vrajnyt have been recorded as part of Asik cultures and traditions for centuries by both Asik peoples and outsiders.
Vrajnyt encompasses a wide variety of gender expressions and bodies. When a gender designated at birth, it is generally assigned to visibly intersex people, such as people with anorchia. People with genetic but physically invisible intersex phenotypes are not classified as vrajnyt and rather as the gender they most resemble. In Ukreka culture, people assigned male at birth who show symptoms of Klinefelter syndrome, generally beginning around puberty, are considered to transition into vrajnyt, lending to gender being more fluid in Asik cultures. Klinefelter syndrome is noticeably more common in Ukreka males than in other Asik males.
Other means of becoming or performing vrajnyt identity is through eunuchism. If people assigned male at birth undergo castration, they are afterwards considered vrajnyt and take on the roles of a median space between men and women. Eunuchism and castration were historically presented as viable and desirable options for men who sought to avoid military conscription and to be able to work in higher Asik courts, notably that of the Yazim State pre-industrial revolution. Otherwise, in some pre-industrial Asik tribes and cities are noted as castrating male prisoners or war from opposing armies and keeping them as male servants and concubines for leaders of the tribes/cities. In these instances, vrajnyt identity is not voluntary, which has contributed to post-industrial and Kunwidya stigma surrounding vrajnyt and other gender variant people as being victims of violence, rather than a legitimate third gender.
The third major group of vrajnyt people are male homosexuals and bisexuals and effeminate men. Male homosexuals and bisexuals in Asik cultures are typically classified as vrajnyt before they are classified as men, likewise with effeminate men. This is more common in northern Asik cultures such as in Yazimret, however, it is a practice found in Ukreka and Tangrek cultures as well, while being less prevalent.