Muxe facts for kids

In the Zapotec cultures of Oaxaca, a region in southern Mexico, a muxe (pronounced moo-sheh) is a person who was born male but lives and dresses in ways often linked with women. They are sometimes seen as a 'third gender' in their community.

What Does the Word "Muxe" Mean?

The word muxe comes from the Zapotec language. Many believe it comes from the Spanish word mujer, which means 'woman'. In the 1500s, the letter 'x' in Spanish was often pronounced like the 'sh' sound we know today.

Muxe in Zapotec Culture

The Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico has a large Zapotec population. This is different from most of Mexico, where the culture is mainly mestizo. A study from the 1970s suggested that about 6 out of every 100 males in one Zapotec community were muxe. Other Zapotec communities also have similar roles for people who are seen as a 'third gender'. One example is the biza’ah in Teotitlán del Valle.

Some muxe marry women and have children. Others choose men as partners. Muxe often do work that is traditionally done by women, like embroidery or decorating altars for homes. However, some muxe also do work usually done by men, such as making jewelry.

Muxe can be vestidas (meaning 'dressed'). This means they wear clothes typically worn by women. Or they can be pintadas (meaning 'painted'). This means they wear clothes typically worn by men.

In Zapotec villages, muxe are often respected and not looked down upon. But in bigger towns that are more like Western cities, they might face some unfair treatment. This can happen because of ideas brought in by Catholicism. Even so, muxe have traditionally been thought to bring good luck. Many muxe now have office jobs or are involved in politics.

Famous Muxe Individuals

Amaranta Gómez Regalado

In 2003, Amaranta Gómez Regalado, who was 25 years old and from Juchitán de Zaragoza, became well-known around the world. She ran for a position in the government as a candidate for the México Posible party during the Oaxaca state elections.

Lukas Avendaño

Lukas Avendaño is a rising performance artist. His recent work explores Mexican culture and the identity of Zapotec women. Avendaño was born in the Isthmus region and shows the complex identity of muxe through his art. His performances combine traditional ritual dances with stories from his own life.

See also

In Spanish: Muxe para niños

• Blossoms of Fire (2000), a documentary film about the people of Juchitán, Oaxaca.