Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1146320 in Books
• Published on: 1992-03-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 220 pages

Customer Reviews

Gay sex tourists whine about Arab men
Along with the heavy-handed attacks by Arno Schmitt of Charles Pellat's work reprinted herein and of John Boswell, are a number of superficial accounts by 1970s gay sex tourists disappointed that the Arabs they let f*** them didn't treat them well. Except for an interesting chapter on "not-so-gay life in Karachi" and a survey of laws in Muslim societies, the books is mostly about Arabs (with some uninformative chapters on Turks and Persians). In contrast _Islamic Homosexualities_ by Murray & Roscoe (NYU, 1997) has greater geographical, cultural, and historical scope, less animus for scholars such as Pellat, and none of the tedious whining of disappointed European and American sex tourists.

An Excellent Mix
Of all books on the topic: the Best. First, it's honest--other editors give them impression that their book is on Indonesian, Nigeria and US-Muslims, but it is--just as this one--on the area from Casablanca to Karachi. Or that lesbians figure in their book--they do not.
Yes, one finds testimonies in Schmitt/Sofer, by most of them by Palestinians, Israelis, Turks and a Pakistani--not Westerners.
But one finds scholarly stuff as well--yet not in academic lingo.
And this book got the highest accolade by people concerned...

Just another way most muslim men deny females importance and honour in this world!!!
...the fact is, I have lived amongst these people in both KARACHI AND MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES...they do not treat men well either that they deem homosexual because they know that it is unnatural and immoral according to their own narrow-minded belief system, but true to (their hypocritical) form, they somehow deem gay sex as "cleaner" and gay men, even when looked down upon, still have more respect than women, who are the majority of men's first and only true heartfelt choice as a mate, both in and out of bed WORLDWIDE. Gay men are a minority class, even in the Middle East, but yet women are treated as inferior by this hostile and inimical to society mindset.(Why didnt they at least superficially describe lesbianism in the Middle East, I assure you, IT DOES EXIST, as MANY arab women cannot stand the overbearing and arrogant men over there, even the ones they are forced to marry.) How anyone, gay or straight, can find brutish, ignorant and intolerant behaviour "sexy" is totally beyond me!!