论北美印第安人的性别跨界与多元文化

A Probe into American Indians' Gender-crossing and Multiculture

曾经孕育过灿烂的古代文明的印第安人有着独特的多元性别文化。与传统二分的性别观念不同,印第安人多元性别文化强调性别所承载的精神内涵和文化意义,主张性别身份的不固定性,男女部族成员可以根据自己的期望、价值观念以及部族需要跨界成为"女子气的男子"或是"男子气的女子"。这些印第安部族性别跨界者被认为具有灵性力量,在部族社会中扮演着特殊的角色,受到族人的尊敬,享有较高部族地位。毫无疑问,这种极具印第安民族色彩的性别文化挑战了西方思维下的二元性别模式,构建了一个多层面的性别视角。虽然被白人殖民文化视为异类而遭到质疑和抹杀,印第安多元性别文化质朴灿烂,自成体系,是人类文化体系中的组成部分,人类文化也因此充满多样性和异质性。

With a splendid and brilliant ancient culture, native Americans boast a unique and multiple gender culture that features gender variance and alternative sexuality. Distinct from the binary opposition of gender in Western culture, the gender culture of American Indians emphasizes spiritual connotation and cultural significance implied and embedded in its gender diversity and advocates the fluidity of gender identity. Native Americans can cross into women-men or men-women after gender-role changes according to their own expectation, values, and need of the tribes. Thought to possess spiritual power, these gender crossers play a special role in the tribal society, enjoying high esteem and status. This culture-specific gender crossing undoubtedly smashes Western ＂either the one or the other＂ way of thinking in regard to the two sexes, and constructs a multi-layered gender perspective. Though being questioned and obliterated as alien by White colonists, the gender culture of American Indians is pristine, brilliant, and self-contained. It is an integral part of human culture, and makes it more diverse and heterogenic.