Homosexualität und Transvestition im Schamanismus

– Homosexuality in shamanism is not necessarily the cause of transvestitism. It is, however, frequently its ultimate form and is found, among so-called primitive peoples, mostly in connection with possessionshamanism. In this case the implicit or explicit intention of transvestitism is the identification with a female deity or the assumption of the social, sexual, and ritual role of women because they are particularly disposed for the type of the possession-shaman. In some cultures with especially rigid sex-stereotypes which do not allow for individual neutral forms, transvestitism offers an institutionalized way of compensating for lack of success in a male role by assuming a female social role. Where shamanism as a form of religion has become obsolete, particular elements of transvestitism may, in a degenerate form, provide a frame for homosexual prostitution. [shamanism, gender roles, culturally specific homosexual behavior, ritual]