Photojournalism: The Hijra Village of Bangladesh: AJ_PHOTOESSAY_08

SHERPUR, BANGLADESH - SEPTEMBER 21: Alo and Habiba (L-R) sit on a makeshift boat in a lake by their village on September 21, 2021 in Sherpur, Bangladesh. In South Asia, “hijras” are identified as a category of people who are assigned as male at birth but develop a feminine gender identity. They are generally outcasted from mainstream society, and have no other way of earning money other than harassing and extorting people for money. A new government initiative aims to change that. Recently, 40 Hijra were given homes, grants, loans, livestock, and livelihood training in an effort to make them self sufficient. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

SHERPUR, BANGLADESH - SEPTEMBER 21: Alo and Habiba (L-R) sit on a makeshift boat in a lake by their village on September 21, 2021 in Sherpur, Bangladesh. In South Asia, “hijras” are identified as a category of people who are assigned as male at birth but develop a feminine gender identity. They are generally outcasted from mainstream society, and have no other way of earning money other than harassing and extorting people for money. A new government initiative aims to change that. Recently, 40 Hijra were given homes, grants, loans, livestock, and livelihood training in an effort to make them self sufficient. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)