Eunuchs in India: Experiences of Stigmatization and Well-Being

The paper reports research findings of the Indian eunuch's perceived stigmatization experiences, economic deprivation, and physical and mental well-being. The participants constituted 42 eunuchs from Uttar Pradesh, India, selected through the technique of convenience sampling. The sample characteristics varied over three dimensions: education, religion, and caste. They rated their perception and experiences on the Socio-Economic Survey Measurement Scale, which included the Social Stigma Scale that covered various dimensions such as stigma, dehumanization, identity, attribution to their present status, coping, and physical and mental well-being. The findings reveal that eunuchs experience high stigmatization, dehumanization, low self-esteem, and poor physical and psychological health. In addition, physical health problems were negatively associated with attribution to fate and psychological health problems were positively related to fatalism and fightback, coping strategies. The findings indicate a mismatch between the political efforts toward the inclusion of eunuch in the mainstream and the actual ground state of their experiences.