Calalai

Key Features

• Cultural Gender Role: Calalai live as men in Bugis society, often adopting masculine clothing, mannerisms, and societal roles. They perform tasks and hold responsibilities typically associated with men, such as engaging in traditionally male professions or social roles.

• Distinct Gender Expression: While they embody masculinity, their gender expression and identity remain distinct within the Bugis cultural framework, emphasizing their unique place in the five-gender system. Unlike transgender men in Western understandings, calalai exist as a culturally specific identity rather than seeking to transition fully into a male role outside of their cultural context.

• Identity Beyond Binary: The calalai identity is not an attempt to conform to Western gender binaries but reflects the nuanced and culturally specific understanding of gender within Bugis society.
  

Context

The Bugis Gender System

The Bugis people recognize five genders:

• Oroané (male)

• Makunrai (female)

• Calabai (feminine AMAB)

• Calalai (masculine AFAB)

• Bissu (gender-transcendent or androgynous individuals with sacred roles)
  

Calalai are a recognized and respected part of this system, challenging the binary gender frameworks common in other cultures.

Traditional Roles

Calalai often take on roles traditionally performed by men, such as farming, fishing, or leading in certain social and familial contexts. Their contributions are seen as vital to the functioning of the community.

Social and Cultural Integration

Within Bugis society, calalai are generally accepted and valued for their unique roles and contributions. This reflects a broader cultural acknowledgment of gender diversity as part of societal harmony.

Cultural Relevance

A Model of Gender Diversity

The existence of calalai highlights the ways in which gender is understood differently across cultures. It provides an example of how societies can integrate non-binary and gender-diverse individuals without forcing them into rigid categories.

Representation of Gender Beyond Western Norms

Calalai and the Bugis gender system offer a counter-narrative to Western-centric understandings of gender. This system reflects a fluid, contextual, and culturally embedded approach to gender identity.

Roles in Ceremony and Community

While calalai do not typically hold ceremonial roles like bissu or calabai, their position in the community is nonetheless significant. Their contributions to daily life and social structures help maintain the balance of genders recognized by Bugis culture.

Intersection of Culture and Religion

Bugis culture is predominantly Islamic, and calalai exist alongside Islamic practices. This coexistence underscores the complexity of navigating traditional gender roles in the context of religious beliefs and modern pressures.

Modern Challenges for Calalai

• Erosion of Cultural Understanding: As Indonesia becomes more globalized, traditional Bugis practices and understandings of gender, including the recognition of calalai, may face challenges or be misunderstood by broader Indonesian or global societies.

• Religious and Political Pressures: Conservative interpretations of Islam and increasing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in Indonesia can lead to stigmatization or marginalization of gender-diverse identities, including calalai, even within the Bugis community.

• Legal and Social Exclusion: Indonesia’s legal framework does not recognize non-binary or culturally specific genders like calalai, which can lead to issues in areas such as documentation, healthcare, and employment outside of traditional roles.