Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies

by Arno Schmitt, John P. De Cecco

Here is the first major work published about sexuality and eroticism between males in Islamic society. Through narratives, analytic essays, descriptions, and academic treatises, Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies provides a revealing and most fascinating look into what is--for most Westerners--still a very hidden, very foreign culture.

Until now there has existed a lack of solid information about sexuality in Islamic society, but this volume portrays very clearly the relationship between same-sex eroticism and the ideal of the man as penetrator. As a result, Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies illuminates not only homosexuality but the whole sexual culture and role of gender in the Muslim world. The chapters focus on homosexuality among men in Morocco, Syria, Iran, Turkey, and Israel. Despite its occurrence in this region of the world, sex between males is not considered to be “homosexuality” by most men--a concept that is reiterated in chapter after chapter. In addition to major differences in the attitudes toward homosexual acts in Muslim countries and the West, this enlightening book also shows great differences among the Muslim countries themselves, depending upon the degree to which Islamic law is enforced, the impact of different western colonial influences and legal systems, and the sheer impact of cultural variation within so vast a geographic area. There are some keen observations and insights into the socialization of boys in Islamic culture, the status and inaccessibility of women, and sex roles and attitudes toward them.

Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies captures a sense of the Muslim countries in the process of rapid change--from the anti-modernist and religious fundamentalism of Iran to the attempts in the cities of Turkey to develop a western style gay way of life, with all the difficulties that involves. An engaging book for readers interested in gay studies, anthropologists, orientalists, historians, students of comparative law, and sexologists, it should also be read by anyone in contact with Arabs, Turks, or Persians--as tourists in Muslim countries, social service professionals working with immigrants, or friends of Muslims.

Genres: Psychology

220 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 1991

Reviews

[Aidan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone interested in the topic can learn something from the book. However, in the end it's all disappointing. What I learned is that all these societies are juvenile compared to the West. They're stuck in an earlier stage of development and can't seem to pull themselves forward. The topic of masculinity especially. It's not so much homosexuality per se, that is disapproved of so violently by those people and societies. But it's the negation of the concept, and inability to see homosexual men as anything masculine. Men who let other men penetrate them are equated with women, and women are equated with lower life forms there. That's the math behind it all. With a predisposition like that it's impossible to change those attitudes and start a healthy exchange on the subject.

And the topic of masculinity in general in those countries seems hopeless. When men think that it's the peak of masculinity to be the insertive partner and last 5 minutes in your deed, never showing an iota of caring for your partner and their pleasure -- that is not an attitude that leads to integrated and healthy relationships. That is a juvenile boy's masculinity, a boy who has just discovered his member and thinks it's his birthright to insert it in everyone, even for the purposes of degradation and sometimes especially for that. And that's the prevailing undercurrent of masculinity in the societies this book deals with. This is what I meant, when I said they are juvenile societies. Juvenile, insecure, and unwilling to learn. Societies based on shame, repression, and denial. It's as unhealthy as you can get. It's a social structure of the school bullies.

It's the peak of masculinity to take care of your partner physically, their needs, and their pleasure, foregoing your own if you have to. To evolve to a higher level than just jerking yourself off in this world. Just because you were born with a penis does not give you the right to use it to rape, humiliate, and force it on anyone you want. But the impression I get, is that the latter belief is exactly what drives the mentality of masculinity in most of the societies described in this book.

[Musa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s important to remember that it was written in 1992 and there are improvements or worsening in some of these countries. I live in Turkey and the scene is much more different than how it was back in those days. Additionally, Turkey has never had a Muslim government. I believe this is what makes the difference. Religious states create problems and are unpredictable.

[Kazuhide(KAZ) Ichikawa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a compilation of social study of Moslem societies. I've read this book almost 10 years ago. Sexuality and eroticism, the diversification of evaluation in different culture, I learned a lot from this book.