Homogeny and Cultural Dominance

Indigenous cultures fall within the definition of "other" as the word is used to describe those whose cultural tradition, lifestyle choices or appearance fail to conform to conventional standards. This word "other" has been used at times to refer to homosexuality, expatriate communities, minority indigenous cultures, the avant garde or any other non-conformists. The androgyny of the "other" stems mainly from their lack of individual recognizability from the point of view of the "non-other", the conformists: "They all look the same." "They", of course, refers not only to members of one sex or the other, but to both sexes together. Thus, both male and female Indians, Asians, pygmies, cannibals, giants, Eskimos, etc... become the same or androgynous in the eyes of the majority of society.