Gifford's "Female transvestites", 1933

"Female transvestites"

Gifford's study of "The Cocopa," for the 1933 University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology, reports on both mole and female "transvestites." About the latter Gifford writes:

Female transvestites (war'harneh): Male proclivities indicated by desire to play with boys, make bows and arrows, hunt birds and rabbits. Young man might love such girl, but she cared nothing for him; wished only to become man. Hair dressed like man's, nose pierced. Such females not menstruate or develop large breasts.

Like men in muscular build, but external sexual organs of women. Attempted sexual intercourse with women, married, established households like men. Fought in battle like men.

References

Jonathan Ned Katz, Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A. (NY: Crowell, 1976) pg.325.