Guna Yala: The islands where women make the rules - www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180813-guna-yala-the-islands-where-women-make-the-rules
That's the headline
"perhaps the most curious tradition in Guna Yala is its natural gender equality – and complete tolerance, if not celebration, of gender fluidity."
" ‘third gender’ is a completely normal phenomenon on the islands. If a boy begins showing a tendency towards acting ‘female’, the family naturally accepts and allows him to grow up as such. Very often, Omeggid will learn a skill that is typically associated with women; for example, most Omeggid living on the islands become masters at crafting the most intricate molas."
Molas of course being needlework, that well known bastion of gender equality.
So if your boy is a bit effeminate you trans him. Now where have we heard that before?
"NandÃn SolÃs GarcÃa, a transgender health educator told me that growing up as a gay, gender-fluid boy wasn’t difficult on the islands because she always had the support of her family, friends and community. It is mostly males that become transgender women – female transitions to male are extremely rare"
Now there's a surprise. Gay males being 'third gender'? Revolutionary. And the right to change gender only functioning for men? Even more.
"Guna women can make a substantial income by selling intricately embroidered molas and winis (colourful bracelets made from glass beads). One mola can sell for $30-$50, whereas a man will only make $20 in a whole day spent cleaning the bottom of a visiting sailboat."
A work of art that takes weeks and involves equipment and materials earns a bit more than a day's unskilled labour? Such wow.