Hopi hova: Anthropological assumptions of gendered otherness in Native American societies

Abstract

The Hopi word hova is glossed in the Hopi Dictionary as homosexual, transvestite, similar to the berdache. This thesis explores the meanings of the words homosexual, transvestite, and berdache in order to gain a better understanding of the Hopi word hova. Most of the major extant, published, anthropological literature regarding the words berdache and hova are reviewed and analyzed. Other cultural ideas such as Navajo nadleehi and Zuni lhamana are also analyzed for cross-cultural purposes. As the anthropological literature is inadequate for explaining the Hopi word hova, future research options and projects are proposed in favor of a static conclusion.