Middlesex+(440-477)

Definitions Hermann Hesse-was a German-Swiss poet, novelist and painter. In 1946 he received the Nobel Peace Prize in literature. His best works include //Steppenwolf, Siddhartha// and //The Glass Bead Game,// all of which explore an individual's search for authenticity, self-knowledge and spirituality. In the novel, Cal mentions that the Deadheads were all reading //Siddhartha//. This novel deals with the spiritual journey of an Indian man during the time of Buddha. []

Ionesco-(1909-1994) Eugene Ionesco was a Romanian and French playwright and dramatists and one of the foremost playwrights of Theater of the Absurd. His plays ridicule the most common situations and depict, in a tangible way the solitude and insignificance of human existence. []

Research another culture's views towards hermaphrodites. How does their view differ from ours? How is it similar? Which is better? While American society has come along way in its opinions of hermaphrodites, we still have a long way to go. Early medical literature often refers to hermaphrodites as monsters or freaks; now, however, the term hermaphrodite has been dropped in exchange for the word intersex due to the derogatory connotations associated with the word hermaphrodite. Now that the technology is available, hermaphrodites are encouraged to become either male or female and are encouraged to adapt to their lives as a single sex person, either man or woman. Since ambiguous still remains somewhat a mystery, people in American society are hesitant but not necessarily unwilling to accept hermaphrodites. In South Asia, hermaphrodites are referred to as Hijras. In most cases hijras live at the margins of society with a very low status. There are very few employment opportunities available to hijras. Violence against hijras is often brutal and occurs in public places as well as in their homes. They face extreme discrimination in any bureaucracy that is unable to place them into male or female gender categories. Many live in well-defined, organized, all-hijra communities led by a guru. The communities have sustained themselves by "adopting" young boys who are rejected by or flee from their family of origin. Many hijras work as prostitutes for survival. I don't think either culture's views towards hermaphrodites are good. Unlike in America, all-hijra communities exist in Asia so they can live their lives their own way and identify with a third gender; Americans are encouraged to choose one gender and identify with that gender for the rest of his or her life. However, I also think that perhaps hermaphrodites are more readily accepted by the rest of society in America than the hijras are in Asia. Either way hermaphrodites and hijras face a large amount of discrimination.

5. While his decision may be rash, I think Cal is justified in running away. He has experienced a lot of changes in a short period of time and I think that his longing to escape is only natural. Callie's frustration with her inability to develop as a female, her sexual awakening with Jerome, and the discovery that she is, indeed intersex, a male genetically but a female in her behaviors and actions are certainly drastic changes for someone as young as Cal is. He is utterly confused at this point and feels lost. I feel extremely sorry for him and while I would never attempt it, I think that Cal is justified in running away and not wanting to return to a place where he will undeniably be forced to be transformed into a woman, the gender with which he does not identify. His parents have always seen him as their daughter and he fears that if he stays, then their daughter he will remain, despite the fact that genetically, he is a male.