Small tribe in Panama, beat the stereotype that woman is less powerful than man

News24xx.com - In a small community of indigenous people in Guna Yala, off the east coast of Panama, a 'third sex' emerged that challenged stereotypes and was very respectful to women. This is Guna Yala, also known as San Blas: an archipelago off the east coast of Panama that consists of 300 islands, and 49 of them are inhabited by Guna tribes.

Guna Yala, who numbered 50,000 people, lived according to the way of their ancestors, living in wooden huts whose roof was made of palm trees, and firewood filled their stoves, and hammocks or swinging beds were the only furniture in their house.

For Guna Yala there are many features: this region is an autonomous indigenous community, and they have a black flag with a swastika symbol that faces left, and represents the four directions of the wind and the creation of the world.

But the most unique in the Guna Yala tradition is its gender similarity which is part of their habits and tolerance, or even celebration, of gender disability. "My mother taught me how to make mola, traditional clothes with embroidery, which is beautiful," said Lisa, one of people on this tribe.

While showing her extraordinary hand-made work, while smiling gently she said, "Some of these embroidery represent birds and other animals, but others are very strong. This applique can protect you from evil spirits.”

For a visitor like us, there's nothing special about Lisa. Like many other Guna Yala women, she sat in her small canoe while offering handicrafts she made to tourists on the boat. But Lisa was born as a man.

In a society where women are the main food suppliers, property owners and decision makers, boys may choose to be Omeggid, or mean 'like women', and they can act and work like other women in this community.

 

 

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