HISTORY: Berdache

Alternative gender roles were among the most widely shared features of North American societies.

Male berdaches have been documented in over 155 tribes.

Calls have been made to replace berdache with “two-spirit.” In 1993, a group of anthropologists and natives issued guidelines that formalized these preferences. “Berdache,” they argued, is a term “that has its origins in Western thought and languages.” Scholars were asked to drop its use altogether and to insert “[sic]” following its appearance in quoted texts. In its place they were encouraged to use tribally specific terms for multiple genders or the term “two-spirit.” Two-spirit was also identified as the preferred label of contemporary gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender natives.