A Brief History of Muxe: Mexico’s Third Gender
Exploring the unique history, cultural role, and enduring legacy of muxes—Mexico’s recognized third gender—among the Zapotec people of Oaxaca.
Deep within the vibrant fabric of Mexico’s multitude of cultures lies a unique and enduring concept of gender—one that expands the boundaries of identity far beyond the male and female binary so often taken for granted in Western discourse. For the indigenous Zapotec people of Oaxaca, muxes (sometimes spelled muxhe) are not simply accepted but actively celebrated as a third gender, blending ancient tradition, communal responsibility, and a nuanced approach to selfhood. The muxe phenomenon offers a powerful window into the ways gender can be both culturally constructed and a force for belonging, continuity, and resistance.
Understanding the Muxe: Origins and Definitions
The word muxe refers to individuals assigned male at birth who adopt roles, attributes, or appearances associated with the feminine, as well as those who blend characteristics of both genders in their daily lives. Importantly, the muxe identity within Zapotec culture is not merely about gender presentation, but implies a social category distinct from both men and women—neither entirely male nor female, but a recognized third gender. While many muxes present in feminine ways, the expression and experiences within this category can be remarkably diverse, transcending rigid Western models of transgender identity .
- Muxe identities are rooted in Zapotec language and custom, not limited by grammatical gender or gender binaries as found in Spanish or English .
- While the etymology is debated, ‘muxe’ likely derives from the early Spanish word for ‘woman’ (mujer), shaped over centuries of linguistic and cultural adaptation .
- Within the community, muxes might refer to themselves as vestidas (those who wear women’s clothing), pintadas (those who wear make-up but not women’s apparel), or tradicionales (those who adhere to Zapotec dress and customs) .
Gender and Identity in Zapotec Culture
The Zapotec communities—especially in Juchitán de Zaragoza and the broader Isthmus of Tehuantepec—are renowned for their acceptance of muxes. Visibly and openly present in both public and private spheres of life, muxes are integrated into family and social structures. Their acceptance flows from the Zapotec worldview, where societal roles and participation hold more significance than rigid gender divisions, and from a matrifocal (woman-centered) society where women traditionally wield economic and social clout .
- The Zapotec language itself features no grammatical gender, fostering additional flexibility around concepts of identity .
- While historical origins remain unclear due to scant pre-colonial records, third-gender roles among Mesoamerican societies are documented, indicating that some form of muxe-like existence has precedence in the region .
- Studies from the 1970s found that roughly 6% of males in certain Zapotec communities identified as muxe, though visibility could be influenced by levels of acceptance and cultural climate .
Mythological and Cultural Origins
Central to the community’s understanding of the prevalence and legitimacy of muxes are Zapotec myths. One popular local legend ascribes the existence of muxes to San Vicente Ferrer, Juchitán’s patron saint. The story tells of three sacks: one of men, another of women, and a third mixed. While crossing Juchitán, the third sack—full of seeds, or individuals of the third gender—split open, and its contents spread, giving rise to an ‘abundance’ of muxes in the community .
Such myths function as foundational narratives, offering spiritual and cultural legitimacy to the muxe identity while highlighting their integration within community cosmology.
Social Roles and Daily Lives of Muxes
Far beyond their gender identity, muxes contribute significantly to the social, economic, and familial structures of Zapotec society. The culture’s matriarchal leanings—where women are primary economic drivers and hold influence in public marketplaces—extend naturally to muxes, who often fill similar roles as women in artisan work, household management, and commerce .
- Muxes are expected to remain in their parents’ households after siblings marry and leave, often becoming key caregivers for aging parents.
- They play pivotal roles in family businesses, especially in traditional artisan crafts, regional markets, and household economic planning.
- Within society, muxes serve as intermediaries—blending masculine and feminine social spheres, facilitating dialogue, and supporting community rituals and celebrations.
- Muxes are frequently seen as a blessing by families, valued for their work ethic, loyalty, and ability to help the family maintain economic stability .
This acceptance is so ingrained that, in some families, having a muxe child is considered a sign of good fortune, as they are presumed to bring prosperity and care to their households.
Forms of Expression: Dress, Ritual, and Tradition
The visible expression of muxe identity is closely tied to Zapotec cultural heritage—most notably through traditional dress. Muxes may wear Tehuana traje, a stunning regional costume characterized by intricate floral embroidery, often inherited from, or created alongside, their mothers and sisters .
- Vestidas tradicionales: Muxes who consistently wear traditional women’s clothing, including the huipil (embroidered blouse) and colorful skirts.
- Vestidas modernas: Those who favor contemporary feminine fashion.
- Pintadas: Muxes known for their use of makeup without changing their customary male attire.
The crafting and display of clothing is not merely for self-presentation but is deeply embedded in kinship, artisanal transmission, and the perpetuation of Zapotec visual culture.
Acceptance, Visibility, and Festival Life
The integration and respect accorded to muxes in Juchitán and other Zapotec territories is underscored by public rituals and celebrations. Chief among them is the Vela de las Intrépidas, a vibrant three-day festival held annually each November in Juchitán .
- During this event, muxes parade through the streets, display their finest attire, and take center stage in dances, banquets, and pageantry.
- The festival is both an affirmation of Zapotec traditions and a public celebration of gender diversity, attended by locals and visitors from across Mexico and beyond.
- Such celebrations reinforce the strong communal bond around muxes and function as both preservation and transformation of Zapotec gender norms.
Community support for muxes is often attributed to the society’s greater emphasis on communal well-being, family honor, and mutual respect—attributes that help anchor muxes within daily life and ritual.
Love, Relationships, and Family Dynamics
Not all muxes have the same familial or romantic trajectories. While some choose to marry women and have children, others seek male partners, build independent networks, or remain single. These relationships may sometimes invite negotiation with traditional expectations, and wider Mexican society can be less accepting of such choices .
- Some muxes form close, supportive relationships with their mothers, often collaborating in crafts and family businesses.
- While many muxes report harmonious relations within their families, particularly those with deep Zapotec roots, broader Mexican society—influenced by Catholic norms and binary gender views—can sometimes be less accommodating.
- Within the Zapotec context, however, muxes’ roles as caregivers and family linchpins frequently earn them emotional support and affection.
Muxe and the Global Discourse on Gender
Outside Zapotec communities, muxes have become icons within Mexico’s national LGBT movement and objects of fascination in global discussions on gender and sexuality. Yet, for muxes themselves, activism often centers on preserving cultural specificity rather than simple alignment with Western LGBT categories .
| Aspect | Muxe (Zapotec 3rd Gender) | Western Transgender Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Role in Society | Integrated, ancient tradition; distinct but communal roles. | Often seeks social recognition, sometimes faces rejection. |
| Terminology | Specific indigenous words (muxe), non-binary; language with no gender. | Transgender, non-binary, male/female; gendered languages. |
| Cultural Emphasis | Community, ritual, family honor, economic contribution. | Self-actualization, legal/medical recognition, individual rights. |
| Visibility | Public, celebrated; featured in festivals. | Varies: visible in activism or marginalized. |
Understanding muxes through a purely Western LGBTQ+ lens risks oversimplifying their role, reducing centuries of indigenous identity-making to new frameworks that may not fully fit or may even erase important cultural context.
Contemporary Challenges and Evolution
Despite longstanding societal acceptance, contemporary muxes navigate both opportunities and obstacles. Social media and increased outside awareness have offered muxes new visibility and, at times, created tensions between preserving tradition and adapting to globalized ideas of gender and activism .
- Urban migration and contact with other gender and sexual minorities across Mexico have raised new questions about identity, rights, and communal obligations.
- Some muxes have become public spokespeople, artists, and activists, balancing their identities as Zapotec tradition-bearers with participation in broader LGBT or human rights initiatives.
- Pockets of discrimination can still exist—especially in interfacing with national institutions or outside indigenous areas.
- Globalization brings both challenges and opportunities: while younger generations may be pulled toward global LGBT identities, many muxes prioritize the continuity of Zapotec language, ritual, and custom.
The Enduring Significance of Muxe Identity
For the Zapotec, gender identity is inseparable from communal well-being, ancestral continuity, and cultural resilience. The existence of muxes, far from being an anomaly, represents a deep tradition that honors multiplicity, imagination, and the capacity of society to bend and blend boundaries for the greater good. As attitudes in the wider world evolve, the story of muxes stands as a powerful example of how culture shapes—and is shaped by—those living at the crossroads of identity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does ‘muxe’ mean?
‘Muxe’ refers to people, assigned male at birth, who take on social and cultural roles outside the traditional male/female binary in Zapotec society, often expressing feminine traits or blending genders as an accepted third gender .
Are muxes accepted in Zapotec communities?
Yes. Muxes are widely accepted, respected, and often celebrated, especially in Juchitán and surrounding areas for their familial and societal contributions .
How do muxes express themselves?
Muxes may wear both traditional and modern feminine clothing, use makeup, or maintain masculine presentation while adopting social roles commonly held by women. Identity expression remains fluid and context-dependent .
Are muxes the same as transgender women?
Muxes and transgender women may share some experiences but the muxe identity is culturally specific, deeply tied to Zapotec traditions, and does not fully align with Western transgender categories .
Are there important festivals for muxes?
Absolutely. The Vela de las Intrépidas festival celebrates muxes each November in Juchitán, spotlighting their role and securing their place within the community’s social fabric .
How does the wider Mexican society view muxes?
While muxes are respected in Zapotec lands, elsewhere in Mexico attitudes can be more conservative, reflecting traditional gender and religious beliefs. However, national and even international awareness and appreciation for muxes have grown in recent decades .
