Muxe Culture: Celebrating Mexico’s Fabulous Third Gender Wally - TheNotSoInnocentsAbroad.com | |
go to original May 15, 2023 |
Talk about visibility! A muxe appeared on the cover of Vogue Mexico! (Tim Walker)
Fierce and fabulous individuals are shaking up gender norms and celebrating their identities in the face of discrimination and marginalization. Meet the muxes (moo-shays) of Mexico.
But first things first: What exactly are muxes? In the Zapotec culture of southern Mexico, muxes are a third gender that includes individuals who identify as a mix of male and female — or something completely different. The term “muxe” comes from the Spanish word for woman, “mujer.” Assigned male at birth, they choose to take on gender roles traditionally affiliated with women.
The Many Flavors of Muxe Identity
Much like Hatshepset, the genderbending woman who became a pharaoh in Ancient Egypt, muxe identity is complex and varied, with different expressions and categories depending on the individual and the community. Some muxes adopt traditionally feminine clothing and roles, while others maintain a more masculine appearance but challenge binary gender norms in other ways.
“Muxe identity is about celebrating difference and diversity, and rejecting the idea that there are only two ways to be in the world,” says Xochi Martinez in Eye magazine. “We are muxes, and that is something to be proud of.”
Within the muxe tradition, you’ll find categories like muxe gunaa (effeminate muxes) and muxe nguiiu (masculine muxes). It’s all about finding a unique expression of gender identity that feels authentic and true.
This view of gender as nonbinary has gained popularity lately — certainly in the U.S. But we’re late to the party: This indigenous group in Mexico has been practicing it for centuries. The largest concentration of muxes is found in the town of Juchitán de Zaragoza, which is located on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in the state of Oaxaca, a narrow stretch of land that separates the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.
A local legend explains the origin of muxes. The story goes that Saint Nicholas Ferrer, the patron saint of Juchitán, was, for some reason, carrying a sack full of muxes and was set to distribute them evenly across the country. But when he arrived in Juchitán, the sack tore, and all the muxes spilled out onto the street. The townspeople viewed this as a good sign and welcomed the muxes with open arms, promising to provide them with a safe haven and a place to call home.
Beyond Gender Norms: The Bold and Colorful Fashion of Muxe Culture
Muxes are known for their fashion sense. Their style is a vibrant mix of traditional Zapotec dress and modern flair, often incorporating bright colors, sequins and bold patterns. Muxes challenge gender norms and express themselves through fashion, rejecting the idea that clothing is inherently tied to a specific gender. Some muxes dress in women’s clothing, while others mix and match traditional men’s and women’s clothing to create their own distinct look.
“We love to adorn ourselves with beautiful clothing and accessories,” muxe activist Nereo García told Vice. “We like to play with our outfits and wear what we want, regardless of what people think. It’s all about expressing our true selves and feeling confident and beautiful in our own skin.”
The muxe fashion scene is a celebration of individuality and self-expression, a rejection of rigid gender roles and expectations.
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