In most traditional societies around the world, there was room for people who expressed themselves beyond what their assigned gender at birth might suggest. This is especially true among indigenous peoples who were untouched by colonial influence, but also applies to others who did experience some contact with Western culture without becoming fully colonized. In fact, some anthropologists believe that pre-colonial times may have been more accommodating to gender diversity than today's mainstream society, which tends to view it as something exotic or even pathological.
One reason why this could be the case is because many cultures had rituals or ceremonies that allowed individuals to transition from one gender identity to another through initiation rites or other means.
In certain parts of Africa, women could choose to undergo special preparations and take on male roles if they felt called to do so, including hunting and warfare. Similarly, in South America, some tribes accepted gender nonconforming members into specific "third genders" that enjoyed special status within the community. These practices were often respected and valued, rather than seen as deviant or shameful.
It should be noted that this does not mean that all traditional societies were entirely accepting of gender variance. Some tribes and cultures did reject those who did not conform to rigid expectations about masculinity or femininity, while others punished transgressors harshly. Nevertheless, overall, there seems to be a sense in which traditional communities had a greater tolerance for those who did not fit neatly into binary gender categories than modern Western ones. This is likely due to their more holistic approach to sexuality, which saw sex and relationships as part of a larger spiritual or communal whole rather than as isolated acts between individuals.
Of course, colonialism brought with it a number of changes that undermined these traditions. Christian missionaries and colonizers sought to impose their own values onto indigenous populations, including a strict adherence to male/female dichotomies and heteronormative relationships. In addition, the rise of capitalism and consumer culture created new pressures on people to conform to narrow definitions of beauty and desirability, making it harder for those outside mainstream gender norms to find acceptance. Today, many LGBTQ+ individuals feel forced to choose between assimilating into cis-hetero society or remaining on its fringes, where they face discrimination and even violence.
Despite these challenges, some groups are working to rekindle their pre-colonial traditions around gender diversity.
Some indigenous nations in North America have begun to revive two-spirit ceremonies and practices, recognizing them as an integral part of their cultural heritage. Similarly, urban centers like San Francisco and New York City have become hubs for queer subcultures inspired by traditional rituals and ways of life. While this is no substitute for decolonization, it suggests that there may be hope yet for a more inclusive future.
Is it possible that some traditional cultures were more inclusive of gender variance before colonial influence than many modern ones are today?
Gender variance is a term used to describe the diverse range of identities outside of what we typically consider to be binary male/female genders. It includes transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and other gender identities not limited by these binaries. Certainly, there have been instances throughout history where some traditional cultures were more accepting of gender variance than others.