Difference between revisions of "Lahiri gender system"

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Pre-colonial [[Lahiri people]]s had a unique gender system, which, like most aspects of traditional life, was severely impacted by [[Lahan#Colonial era|colonisation]]. Although most modern day Lahiri people do not adhere strictly to, or necessarily identify at all with these traditional roles, the system does survive to some extent, especially in more rural villages. However, it is generally held that much understanding of these roles has been lost through acts of cultural genocide.  
Pre-colonial [[Lahiri people]]s had a unique gender system, which, like most aspects of traditional life, was severely impacted by [[Lahan#Colonial era|colonisation]]. Although most modern day Lahiri people do not adhere strictly to, or necessarily identify at all with these traditional roles, the system does survive to some extent, especially in more rural villages. However, it is generally held that much understanding of these roles has been lost through acts of cultural genocide.  


The traditional Lahiri gender system had many parallels to other Lahani, Puzimmese, and Ekuosian systems, both in terms of having more than two genders, and some of the specific gender roles. This was a ternary system based on formalized divisions of labour, and did not reflect physical sexual characteristics in any way.  
The traditional Lahiri gender system had many parallels to other Lahani and [[Lower Ekuosian|Lower Ekuosia]] systems, both in terms of having more than two genders, and some of the specific gender roles. This was a ternary system based on formalized divisions of labour, and did not reflect physical sexual characteristics in any way.  


Understanding of the traditional system is based on oral Lahiri records, writings by colonial scholars, and the self-determination of modern Lahiri people. As such, the understanding is coloured through the perspective of the colonial systems that were enforced after it.
Understanding of the traditional system is based on oral Lahiri records, writings by colonial scholars, and the self-determination of modern Lahiri people. As such, the understanding is coloured through the perspective of the colonial systems that were enforced after it.


==Evolution of the system==
=Traditional Lahiri system=
It is often theorized that the three-gender system, built strictly around division of labour in space, arose originally as a social class, clan, or moiety system...
 
An alternative theory is that three gender roles, originally strongly associated with physical sex, simply lost their physical associations over time...
 
==Traditional Lahiri system==
 
The '''traditional system''' recognizes three roles, known in [[Old Thap]] as [TBD, placeholders "stayer, fisher, inlander"]. These terms are thought to be calqued from a [[Sañuan]] language, such as [[Qaila'u]] (where the terms are ''sēyōmo, ñāmo,'' and ''lanēmo'', but were adopted into [[Lahiri languages]] early during in the [[Lahan#Lahiri migration|Lahiri migration]]  
The '''traditional system''' recognizes three roles, known in [[Old Thap]] as [TBD, placeholders "stayer, fisher, inlander"]. These terms are thought to be calqued from a [[Sañuan]] language, such as [[Qaila'u]] (where the terms are ''sēyōmo, ñāmo,'' and ''lanēmo'', but were adopted into [[Lahiri languages]] early during in the [[Lahan#Lahiri migration|Lahiri migration]]  


As their purported etymology indicates, originally the division of the three genders was home/offshore/inland, or more functionally, homekeepers/ fishermen/ gatherers. Over time, the 'inland' gender expanded to include long-distance voyages overland to trade with other settlements. In a number of Lahiri peoples, this shifted the paradigm to a "stayer, leaver, voyager" system, where the "leavers" could go offshore or inland—but typically only a day at a time—while "voyagers", also called "wanderers", may not even have a single village they consider home.
As their purported etymology indicates, originally the division of the three genders was home/offshore/inland, or more functionally, homekeepers/ fishermen/ gatherers. Over time, the 'inland' gender expanded to include long-distance voyages overland to trade with other settlements. In a number of Lahiri peoples, this shifted the paradigm to a "stayer, leaver, voyager" system, where the "leavers" could go offshore or inland—but typically only a day at a time—while "voyagers", also called "wanderers", may not even have a single village they consider home.


===Gender roles===
==Gender roles==
====[Stayers]====
===[Stayers]===
[stayers] (translated as 'homekeeper, villager') were the only gender with the right to own land. They took up responsibilities and professions that required remaining within the village for the day; for example, childminding, construction, weaving, cooking and food processing.  
[stayers] (translated as 'homekeeper, villager') were the gender associated with the home. They took up responsibilities and professions that required remaining within the village for the day; for example, childminding, construction, weaving, cooking and food processing. They were the only gender permitted to own property that they had not personally claimed or built on; they acquired properties through trade transactions or, more often, inheritance or marriage. It was also not uncommon for adult [stayer] siblings to live in a home together with their respective spouses and offspring, although this could lead to issues in terms of succession and inheritance.  


This gender resembles in many ways the [[Adzamasiin gender#Sena|seen]] of the [[Adzamasiin gender|Adzo-Neviric gender system]]; during [[Saruan Empire|Neviran colonisation]] of Lahan, this was often made official, with most [stayers] being legally registered as ''seen''.  
[stayers] were the gender most likely to become pregnant and give birth, although there were many who did or could not. Nevertheless, they were tasked with nurturing children, often acting as wetnurses for infants born to [fishers] and [inlanders]. Although tasks associated with the other genders would be taught by those, basic education was also in their purview.  


====[Fishers]====
===[Fishers]===
[fishers] ('those who go offshore') were those who traveled out to sea every day to fish. In some Lahiri societies—especially non-coastal ones—this also included those who went into the forests to forage, and therefore in many senses was more of a 'food-gathering' or 'daily-leaving' role.
[fishers] ('those who go offshore') were those who traveled out to sea every day to fish. In some Lahiri societies—especially non-coastal ones—this also included those who went into the forests to forage, and therefore in many senses was more of a 'food-gathering' or 'daily-leaving' role.


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[fishers] could not own land in their own right, but could gain rights to it through marriage to a [stayer]. Until marriage, they would live with their parents or siblings, or else take up residence in the ('bachelor barracks') that were common in many villages. [fishers] married to a [stayer] would have shared legal ownership of the [stayer]'s home, which they could extend to their dependent children or aging parents, but not to any additional spouses of their own.
[fishers] could not own land in their own right, but could gain rights to it through marriage to a [stayer]. Until marriage, they would live with their parents or siblings, or else take up residence in the ('bachelor barracks') that were common in many villages. [fishers] married to a [stayer] would have shared legal ownership of the [stayer]'s home, which they could extend to their dependent children or aging parents, but not to any additional spouses of their own.


====[Inlanders]====
However, [fishers] were the only group with a legal right to a boat.
[inlanders] ('those who go into the wilderness') took longer journeys for days, weeks, months, or longer, as traveling traders, entertainers, and messengers...
 
There was also the issue of non-coastal Lahiri villages. Although these were originally quite few in number, as the Lahiri expanded across the island they did begin to make permanent settlements farther from the coast, and sometimes even relatively far from navigable bodies of water. This could have easily resulted in a total collapse of the distinction between [fishers] and [inlanders], but instead their roles were somewhat shifted and remained recognized; [fishers] became the primary hunters and woodworkers, while [inlanders] focused more on foraging.
 
Finally, retired [fishers] who had served as captains of larger vessels were the group most represented in village leadership.
 
===[Inlanders]===
[inlanders] ('those who go into the wilderness'), initially those who foraged or hunted inland, also took longer journeys for days, weeks, months, or longer, as traveling traders, entertainers, and messengers. It is thought that they were originally the only group permitted to own land; this, thus, gave them great leverage in attracting [stayers] as spouses.


Like [fishers], [inlanders] could not own property in their own right, and typically lived with family or in a bachelor barracks until marriage...
Like [fishers], [inlanders] could not own property in their own right, and typically lived with family or in a bachelor barracks until marriage...


===Gendering===
==Gendering==
 
Children were considered genderless, and would choose a role sometime after puberty, after having undertaken general education and typically completing short apprenticeships in more than one gendered area of labour.  
Children were considered genderless, and would choose a role sometime after puberty, after having undertaken general education and typically completing short apprenticeships in more than one gendered area of labour.  


Elders and those who become incapable of traveling had their previous gender recognized, and were generally tasked with teaching and other less physically demanding work. Those who were born with physical disabilities limiting travel were generally [stayers], although in some places they were considered genderless (such places tended not to treat the disabled very well). Elders and the disabled could live with family or in the bachelor barracks.
Elders and those who became incapable (for whatever reason) of carrying out their gender-associated tasks maintained their gender status, and were generally tasked with teaching and other less physically demanding work. Those who were born with physical disabilities limiting travel were generally [stayers], although in some places they were considered genderless (such places tended not to treat the disabled very well). Elders typically lived with their adult children, nieces or nephews; or, if they had no young and healthy relatives (or were unwelcome) they would reside in the village bachelor barracks. The disabled would similarly usually live with their home family or in the bachelor barracks, although some did manage to own their own homes.


Gender was generally not to be changed, and steering children towards one particular gender or another was typically frowned upon, although after disasters, wars, or other events too greatly unbalance a population, it was allowed. Temporary changes in behaviours considered gendered, however, were common; for example, [leavers] and [voyagers] who are in late pregnancy, have recently given birth, or are recovering from an illness or injury, will generally stay at home. Likewise, [stayers] and [leavers] of particular skill may be called on long voyages to distant villages to assist with a crisis. This does not generally invalidate or cause a change of their gender.
Gender was generally not to be changed during adulthood, and steering children towards one particular gender or another was typically frowned upon, although after disasters, wars, or other events too greatly unbalance a population, it was allowed. Temporary changes in behaviours considered gendered, however, were common; for example, [leavers] and [voyagers] who were in late pregnancy, had recently given birth, or were recovering from an illness or injury, would generally stay at home. Likewise, [stayers] and [leavers] of merit, with needed skills, may be called on long voyages to distant villages to assist with a crisis; or might move to another village for marriage if their local prospects were not adequate. These temporary changes did not typically require a change in gender status, which was difficult to acquire.


==Interactions between the genders==
===Sexuality and marriage===
===Sexuality and marriage===
Since gender, irrespective of sexual characteristics, was the system on which legality was based, laws and practices regarding sexual orientation were focused almost exclusively around the matching of gender roles among pre-colonial Lahiri. For example, same-gender marriage did not occur in most Lahiri populations; marriage was used as a means of ensuring social cohesion and the sharing of resources between the three different roles, most importantly the exchange of shelter (owned by the [stayers]) for resources (provided by [fishers] and [inlanders]). ...
Since people were legally distinguished by their gender, irrespective of physical traits, laws and practices regarding sexual orientation were focused almost exclusively around the matching of gender roles among pre-colonial Lahiri. For example, same-gender marriage did not occur in most Lahiri populations; marriage was used as a means of ensuring social cohesion and the sharing of resources between the three different roles, most importantly the exchange of shelter (owned by the [stayers]) for resources (provided by [fishers] and [inlanders]). ...
 
Same-gender sexual contact was not prohibited, although in many societies extramarital sex was frowned upon, and as same-gender marriage was not permitted, this lead to a type of homophobia.
 
Polygamous marriage was common. Although [stayers] were the most numerous gender, they did not represent a majority or even half of the population (most estimates place them around 40%), and so the remaining 60% of [fishers] and [inlanders] were statistically disadvantaged for landholding rights (which they could only acquire by marrying a [stayer]). It was therefore not uncommon for a [stayer] to have two to three spouses. On the other hand, [inlanders]—especially those who went on extended journeys—would often have spouses in more than one village, and therefore a home to go to at both ends of their expeditions. [Fishers] were the gender least likely to have multiple spouses, although triads—with one member of each gender, all married to each other—were not unheard of.
 
===Inheritance===
===Daily life===
As most Lahiri would spend the majority of their days among members of their own gender, many behaviours would spread through one gender group, resulting in stereotypes or even new traditions, as well as a number of practices around how people of different genders should interact in given situations. Excepting their family members or potential spouses, typically, people would be more formal, courteous, and socially distant with people of other genders, making little or no eye contact or physical contact, and would not associate for mere social purposes outside of special occasions. On the other hand, there was often a strong sense of siblinghood among each gender group within the village. Moderate gender-based language divergence produced a multitude of genderlects between different villages, although most of these have declined or totally disappeared in the modern day.
 
===Religious behaviours===
 
=History of the Lahiri gender system=
==Origins==
It is often theorized that the three-gender system, built strictly around division of labour in space, arose originally as a social class, clan, or moiety system...
 
An alternative theory is that three gender roles, originally strongly associated with physical sex, simply lost their physical associations over time...
 
[Gotta be some stuff about religion.]
 
==Gender within the Lahiri Dynasties==
As time went on and Lahiri civilization grew more complex, there was a marked shift in lifestyles that required some restructuring of the traditional gender system. As the economy diversified, more roles became available, not all of which suited the existing systems. One of the driving factors behind this change was the rise of noble houses, which saw for the first time rule by powerful individuals over larger numbers of citizens. The accumulation of wealth and knowledge allowed more people to become craftsmen, artists, accountants, scribes, soldiers, and more. At the same time, growing populations saw local resources—especially inland—dwindling from overharvesting. As a result, around the year 1200, there was a drastic shift in [either: the gender ratio (very few "travelers") or roles].
 
[Monarchs have to co-rule with one or more spouses (or siblings?) to actually own all their shit? Or: they are Genderless Beings? Or: Fourth Gender, Just For Monarchs? Or: Rulership without necessarily having Ownership]
 
==Evolution under Saruan rule==
When the Neviran [[Saruan Empire]] began colonizing Lahan in the 1600s, they used a variety of different census techniques to record the genders of their colonial subjects. Nevirans recognize [[Lower Ekuosian gender system|four genders]], but they are tied directly to one of the two sex groups that are also recognized.
 
Nevirans were initially perplexed by the Lahiri system as it did not refer to sexual characteristics in any form, while still having considerable consequences on one's rights and lifestyle.
 
Of the seven genders at play, [stayers] and Neviran ''seen'' shared a number of traits in common, being the group equivocated with homekeeping, home ownership, and the principality of childminding. As such, the vast majority of [stayers] were recorded as ''seen'' in Neviran censuses; however, when census-takers discovered (or presumed) that an individual would be more accurately labeled as ''benthiin'' within the Neviran system, due to their physical sexual characteristics, issues would arise, since the rights afforded to ''benthiin'' differed significantly from those of ''seen'' in terms of home ownership, inheritance, marriage, and other key aspects of life. There would also be the occasional [stayer] who a census-taker would decide was better described as a ''lethe'' or even ''bakrar'', with similar issues.
 
It was much more difficult to find any clear equivalence between [fishers] and [inlanders] in comparison to the Neviran system. As a result, these people were most often marked down as ''rukraan'' or ''letheen'' based only on their sexual characteristics.
 
The re-gendering of many Lahiri led to significant difficulties for these individuals, as they were no longer permitted by their government to do things such as own their own homes, retain an official marriage to their spouses, or in many cases, carry out their duties or professions. This eventually led to most Lahiri refusing to submit to physical examinations for the purpose of sex determination. Eventually, the Nevirans began to recognize the Lahiri genders as legal categories tied strictly to ethnicity; only purely native Lahani could be recorded with them on the census, and Saruan laws started enforcing Lahiri gender-related rights very strictly. People with mixed ancestry had to choose between a traditional Lahiri gender or receiving overall better treatment under their government if they accepted an appropriate Neviran gender.  


Same-gender sexual contact was not prohibited, although in many societies extramarital sex was frowned upon.
==Evolution under Balak rule==


Polygamous marriage was common. Although [stayers] were by far the most numerous gender, they did not represent a majority or even half of the population (most estimates place them around 40%), and so the remaining 60% of [fishers] and [inlanders] were statistically disadvantaged for landholding rights (which they could only acquire by marrying a [stayer]). It was therefore not uncommon for a [stayer] to have two to three spouses. On the other hand, [inlanders]—especially those who went on extended journeys—would often have spouses in more than one village, and therefore a home to go to at both ends of their expeditions. [Fishers] were the gender least likely to have multiple spouses, although triads—with one member of each gender, all married to each other—were not unheard of.
==Present day==
In the modern day, gender recognition in Lahan is quite complex. Some modern sovereign states, including [[Thuyo]], recognize seven legal gender options—the traditional Lahiri three, the Lower Ekuosian four, and the Balak two (often tying this to ethnic background—a practice which continues to result in some segregation or inequality). Others have maintained the Balak sex-bases system, or record both a legal sex and a legal gender as separate distinctions.  


In 2012, [[Kaiyyo]] proudly reverted to the native Lahiri system. Although this is now more a matter of social recognition, with greater freedom in terms of rights of property, marriage, inheritance, travel, profession, and other restrictions. It does not recognize any other genders, including among settler-colonial and immigrant Kaiyyoan citizens or permanent residents. Short-term visitors may opt to include a temporary Lahiri gender marker in their passport, but this is not required.


[[Category:Gender]] [[Category:Anthropology]] [[Category:Lahan]]
[[Category:Gender]] [[Category:Anthropology]] [[Category:Lahan]]

Revision as of 05:19, 30 August 2021

Pre-colonial Lahiri peoples had a unique gender system, which, like most aspects of traditional life, was severely impacted by colonisation. Although most modern day Lahiri people do not adhere strictly to, or necessarily identify at all with these traditional roles, the system does survive to some extent, especially in more rural villages. However, it is generally held that much understanding of these roles has been lost through acts of cultural genocide.

The traditional Lahiri gender system had many parallels to other Lahani and Lower Ekuosia systems, both in terms of having more than two genders, and some of the specific gender roles. This was a ternary system based on formalized divisions of labour, and did not reflect physical sexual characteristics in any way.

Understanding of the traditional system is based on oral Lahiri records, writings by colonial scholars, and the self-determination of modern Lahiri people. As such, the understanding is coloured through the perspective of the colonial systems that were enforced after it.

Traditional Lahiri system

The traditional system recognizes three roles, known in Old Thap as [TBD, placeholders "stayer, fisher, inlander"]. These terms are thought to be calqued from a Sañuan language, such as Qaila'u (where the terms are sēyōmo, ñāmo, and lanēmo, but were adopted into Lahiri languages early during in the Lahiri migration

As their purported etymology indicates, originally the division of the three genders was home/offshore/inland, or more functionally, homekeepers/ fishermen/ gatherers. Over time, the 'inland' gender expanded to include long-distance voyages overland to trade with other settlements. In a number of Lahiri peoples, this shifted the paradigm to a "stayer, leaver, voyager" system, where the "leavers" could go offshore or inland—but typically only a day at a time—while "voyagers", also called "wanderers", may not even have a single village they consider home.

Gender roles

[Stayers]

[stayers] (translated as 'homekeeper, villager') were the gender associated with the home. They took up responsibilities and professions that required remaining within the village for the day; for example, childminding, construction, weaving, cooking and food processing. They were the only gender permitted to own property that they had not personally claimed or built on; they acquired properties through trade transactions or, more often, inheritance or marriage. It was also not uncommon for adult [stayer] siblings to live in a home together with their respective spouses and offspring, although this could lead to issues in terms of succession and inheritance.

[stayers] were the gender most likely to become pregnant and give birth, although there were many who did or could not. Nevertheless, they were tasked with nurturing children, often acting as wetnurses for infants born to [fishers] and [inlanders]. Although tasks associated with the other genders would be taught by those, basic education was also in their purview.

[Fishers]

[fishers] ('those who go offshore') were those who traveled out to sea every day to fish. In some Lahiri societies—especially non-coastal ones—this also included those who went into the forests to forage, and therefore in many senses was more of a 'food-gathering' or 'daily-leaving' role.

Many [fishers] also specialized in the making and maintaining of watercraft and hunting tools, although this work could also be performed by [stayers]. Elderly [fishers] would often continue the manufacture of hunting weapons after retirement, and sometimes people with physical disabilities (congenital or acquired) that prevented them from sailing or participating in certain activities could prove themselves to be [fishers] through extensive production of the tools necessary for these trades.

[fishers] could not own land in their own right, but could gain rights to it through marriage to a [stayer]. Until marriage, they would live with their parents or siblings, or else take up residence in the ('bachelor barracks') that were common in many villages. [fishers] married to a [stayer] would have shared legal ownership of the [stayer]'s home, which they could extend to their dependent children or aging parents, but not to any additional spouses of their own.

However, [fishers] were the only group with a legal right to a boat.

There was also the issue of non-coastal Lahiri villages. Although these were originally quite few in number, as the Lahiri expanded across the island they did begin to make permanent settlements farther from the coast, and sometimes even relatively far from navigable bodies of water. This could have easily resulted in a total collapse of the distinction between [fishers] and [inlanders], but instead their roles were somewhat shifted and remained recognized; [fishers] became the primary hunters and woodworkers, while [inlanders] focused more on foraging.

Finally, retired [fishers] who had served as captains of larger vessels were the group most represented in village leadership.

[Inlanders]

[inlanders] ('those who go into the wilderness'), initially those who foraged or hunted inland, also took longer journeys for days, weeks, months, or longer, as traveling traders, entertainers, and messengers. It is thought that they were originally the only group permitted to own land; this, thus, gave them great leverage in attracting [stayers] as spouses.

Like [fishers], [inlanders] could not own property in their own right, and typically lived with family or in a bachelor barracks until marriage...

Gendering

Children were considered genderless, and would choose a role sometime after puberty, after having undertaken general education and typically completing short apprenticeships in more than one gendered area of labour.

Elders and those who became incapable (for whatever reason) of carrying out their gender-associated tasks maintained their gender status, and were generally tasked with teaching and other less physically demanding work. Those who were born with physical disabilities limiting travel were generally [stayers], although in some places they were considered genderless (such places tended not to treat the disabled very well). Elders typically lived with their adult children, nieces or nephews; or, if they had no young and healthy relatives (or were unwelcome) they would reside in the village bachelor barracks. The disabled would similarly usually live with their home family or in the bachelor barracks, although some did manage to own their own homes.

Gender was generally not to be changed during adulthood, and steering children towards one particular gender or another was typically frowned upon, although after disasters, wars, or other events too greatly unbalance a population, it was allowed. Temporary changes in behaviours considered gendered, however, were common; for example, [leavers] and [voyagers] who were in late pregnancy, had recently given birth, or were recovering from an illness or injury, would generally stay at home. Likewise, [stayers] and [leavers] of merit, with needed skills, may be called on long voyages to distant villages to assist with a crisis; or might move to another village for marriage if their local prospects were not adequate. These temporary changes did not typically require a change in gender status, which was difficult to acquire.

Interactions between the genders

Sexuality and marriage

Since people were legally distinguished by their gender, irrespective of physical traits, laws and practices regarding sexual orientation were focused almost exclusively around the matching of gender roles among pre-colonial Lahiri. For example, same-gender marriage did not occur in most Lahiri populations; marriage was used as a means of ensuring social cohesion and the sharing of resources between the three different roles, most importantly the exchange of shelter (owned by the [stayers]) for resources (provided by [fishers] and [inlanders]). ...

Same-gender sexual contact was not prohibited, although in many societies extramarital sex was frowned upon, and as same-gender marriage was not permitted, this lead to a type of homophobia.

Polygamous marriage was common. Although [stayers] were the most numerous gender, they did not represent a majority or even half of the population (most estimates place them around 40%), and so the remaining 60% of [fishers] and [inlanders] were statistically disadvantaged for landholding rights (which they could only acquire by marrying a [stayer]). It was therefore not uncommon for a [stayer] to have two to three spouses. On the other hand, [inlanders]—especially those who went on extended journeys—would often have spouses in more than one village, and therefore a home to go to at both ends of their expeditions. [Fishers] were the gender least likely to have multiple spouses, although triads—with one member of each gender, all married to each other—were not unheard of.

Inheritance

Daily life

As most Lahiri would spend the majority of their days among members of their own gender, many behaviours would spread through one gender group, resulting in stereotypes or even new traditions, as well as a number of practices around how people of different genders should interact in given situations. Excepting their family members or potential spouses, typically, people would be more formal, courteous, and socially distant with people of other genders, making little or no eye contact or physical contact, and would not associate for mere social purposes outside of special occasions. On the other hand, there was often a strong sense of siblinghood among each gender group within the village. Moderate gender-based language divergence produced a multitude of genderlects between different villages, although most of these have declined or totally disappeared in the modern day.

Religious behaviours

History of the Lahiri gender system

Origins

It is often theorized that the three-gender system, built strictly around division of labour in space, arose originally as a social class, clan, or moiety system...

An alternative theory is that three gender roles, originally strongly associated with physical sex, simply lost their physical associations over time...

[Gotta be some stuff about religion.]

Gender within the Lahiri Dynasties

As time went on and Lahiri civilization grew more complex, there was a marked shift in lifestyles that required some restructuring of the traditional gender system. As the economy diversified, more roles became available, not all of which suited the existing systems. One of the driving factors behind this change was the rise of noble houses, which saw for the first time rule by powerful individuals over larger numbers of citizens. The accumulation of wealth and knowledge allowed more people to become craftsmen, artists, accountants, scribes, soldiers, and more. At the same time, growing populations saw local resources—especially inland—dwindling from overharvesting. As a result, around the year 1200, there was a drastic shift in [either: the gender ratio (very few "travelers") or roles].

[Monarchs have to co-rule with one or more spouses (or siblings?) to actually own all their shit? Or: they are Genderless Beings? Or: Fourth Gender, Just For Monarchs? Or: Rulership without necessarily having Ownership]

Evolution under Saruan rule

When the Neviran Saruan Empire began colonizing Lahan in the 1600s, they used a variety of different census techniques to record the genders of their colonial subjects. Nevirans recognize four genders, but they are tied directly to one of the two sex groups that are also recognized.

Nevirans were initially perplexed by the Lahiri system as it did not refer to sexual characteristics in any form, while still having considerable consequences on one's rights and lifestyle.

Of the seven genders at play, [stayers] and Neviran seen shared a number of traits in common, being the group equivocated with homekeeping, home ownership, and the principality of childminding. As such, the vast majority of [stayers] were recorded as seen in Neviran censuses; however, when census-takers discovered (or presumed) that an individual would be more accurately labeled as benthiin within the Neviran system, due to their physical sexual characteristics, issues would arise, since the rights afforded to benthiin differed significantly from those of seen in terms of home ownership, inheritance, marriage, and other key aspects of life. There would also be the occasional [stayer] who a census-taker would decide was better described as a lethe or even bakrar, with similar issues.

It was much more difficult to find any clear equivalence between [fishers] and [inlanders] in comparison to the Neviran system. As a result, these people were most often marked down as rukraan or letheen based only on their sexual characteristics.

The re-gendering of many Lahiri led to significant difficulties for these individuals, as they were no longer permitted by their government to do things such as own their own homes, retain an official marriage to their spouses, or in many cases, carry out their duties or professions. This eventually led to most Lahiri refusing to submit to physical examinations for the purpose of sex determination. Eventually, the Nevirans began to recognize the Lahiri genders as legal categories tied strictly to ethnicity; only purely native Lahani could be recorded with them on the census, and Saruan laws started enforcing Lahiri gender-related rights very strictly. People with mixed ancestry had to choose between a traditional Lahiri gender or receiving overall better treatment under their government if they accepted an appropriate Neviran gender.

Evolution under Balak rule

Present day

In the modern day, gender recognition in Lahan is quite complex. Some modern sovereign states, including Thuyo, recognize seven legal gender options—the traditional Lahiri three, the Lower Ekuosian four, and the Balak two (often tying this to ethnic background—a practice which continues to result in some segregation or inequality). Others have maintained the Balak sex-bases system, or record both a legal sex and a legal gender as separate distinctions.

In 2012, Kaiyyo proudly reverted to the native Lahiri system. Although this is now more a matter of social recognition, with greater freedom in terms of rights of property, marriage, inheritance, travel, profession, and other restrictions. It does not recognize any other genders, including among settler-colonial and immigrant Kaiyyoan citizens or permanent residents. Short-term visitors may opt to include a temporary Lahiri gender marker in their passport, but this is not required.