Bencong in Indonesian is similar to the meaning of banci. It is a term that refers to a man who behaves and dresses like a woman, or a transgender woman.
Bencong is also a derogatory and insulting term that can be considered a slur or a hate speech. Some waria may prefer other terms to describe their identity, such as wadam, transpuan, or simply perempuan (woman).
Bencong is a term that has a long and complex history in Indonesian culture and society. It may have originated from the Javanese word wariya, which means “servant” or “follower” and was used to refer to cross-dressing attendants who served the royal courts in pre-Islamic times .
Bencong was also influenced by the colonial and post-colonial encounters with Western notions of gender and sexuality, as well as by the Islamic teachings and values that dominate Indonesian society. Bencong is a term that reflects the diversity and fluidity of gender expressions and identities in Indonesia, but also the stigma and discrimination that waria face in their daily lives.
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This article was written by Roy Tan.