Homosexuality In Africa
It has been stated that Edward Gibbon made the first most influential observation on the absence of homosexuality in Africa, in a study published in 1781: “I believe and hope, that the Negroes in their own country were exempt from this moral pestilence.” Even as recently as 1982, there was an assumption that the African society was heterosexual and homosexuality did not exist. However, evidence that there were same-sex relationships in pre-colonial Africa exists.
Studies in books such as "Boy Wives and Female Husbands" have found evidence that support the claim that 16th century European missionaries, explorers and officials documented homosexuality Africa. Andrew Battell in particular, an English traveller in the 1590s wrote that the
…show more content…
In the African continent, there are different punishments for homosexuality depending on the specific country. Sudan and Algeria have the death penalty while in South Africa, from 2006 same-sex marriage has been legal. Besides the repressive laws, there has also been enormous political negativity in relation to the sexual minority. Former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi once stated, “Homosexuality is against African norms and traditions … Kenya has no room for homosexuals and lesbians.” This statement clearly shows that there has been a misconception that homosexuality is a problem that the colonialists brought.
My study will focus on the misconception that homosexuality is a Western culture and will seek to prove that this phenomenon actually existed in pre-colonial Kenya. This will in turn clear the misunderstanding that the colonialists brought this “vice”. The tolerance of the sexual minority in Africa at one point in time will help my study because it will seek to show that criminalization of these acts is what has brought about intolerance among Africans.
1.7.2 Homophobia, Discrimination and Violence against LGBT
…show more content…
It also found that the vulnerability of the sexual minority in Kenya was because of the poor background of those interviewed. According to another study conducted by the Human Rights Watch in various cases LGBT people in the coastal counties of Kenya have been targeted in occurrences of mob violence and religious leaders have played a part in
Tony Kushner's Angels In America
678 Words | 3 PagesIn the 1980s, during the apogee of the AIDS crisis, many conservatives came forward to blame the homosexual community for the epidemic. For instance, according to Armstrong, Lam, and Chase, Kaposi’s sarcomas, along with other diseases, make up a list of conditions that serves as a guideline for the diagnosis of AIDS. In fact, its relation to AIDS is so remarkable that it became a label; in a society that is divided by pre-conceived ideas of morality, it became a visual representation of HIV as a punishment for homosexuality. However, in Angels in America: a Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Tony Kushner attributes a greater meaning to the lesions caused by Kaposi’s sarcoma – from death sentence to change, and finally, to redemption. These lesions symbolize the lethality that comes with AIDS, and how it has shaped the sense of community amongst homosexuals.
Tony Kushner's Angels In America
689 Words | 3 PagesIn the 1980s, during the apogee of the AIDS crisis, many conservatives came forward to blame homosexuals for the epidemic. For instance, according to Armstrong, Lam, and Chase, Kaposi’s sarcomas, alongside other diseases, composes a list of conditions that serves as a criterion for the diagnosis of AIDS. In fact, its relation to AIDS is so remarkable that it became a label; in a society that is divided by pre-conceived ideas of morality, it became a visual representation of HIV as punishment for homosexuality. However, in Angels in America: a Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Tony Kushner attributes a deeper meaning to the lesions caused by Kaposi’s sarcomas – from death sentence to change, and finally, to redemption. Through these lesions, the author symbolizes the paradox of AIDS in an American society that refuses to embrace minorities, and how its destructiveness has fortified the sense of community amongst homosexuals.
Tony Kushner's Angels In America
664 Words | 3 PagesIn the 1980s, during the apogee of the AIDS crisis, many conservatives came forward to blame homosexuals for the epidemic. For instance, according to Armstrong, Lam, and Chase, Kaposi’s sarcomas, along with other diseases, make up a list of conditions that serves as a guideline for the diagnosis of AIDS. In fact, its relation to AIDS is so remarkable that it became a label; in a society that is divided by pre-conceived ideas of morality, it became a visual representation of HIV as a punishment for homosexuality. However, in Angels in America: a Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Tony Kushner attributes a greater meaning to the lesions caused by Kaposi’s sarcoma – from death sentence to change, and finally, to redemption. These lesions symbolize the lethality that comes with AIDS, and how it has shaped the sense of community amongst homosexuals.
Africa In World Politics Chapter Summary
859 Words | 4 PagesAfrica In World Politics: Engaging a Changing Global Order by John Harbenson and Donald Rothchild gives an analysis of how Africa has changed from being a European ruled colonial nation to a nation that it creating a name for itself in the global sphere. Beginning with Africa’s politics during the colonial era through the present. The book provides not only details about Africa but also how the changing world has affected African politics. The main focus of this book is to show the growth Africa has had since its time of colonization. Africa has grown as the world has changed although it has had to deal with internal conflicts and demands for political change due to its authoritarian regimes.
Summary Of Aids By Peter Redman
569 Words | 3 PagesIn the reading by Peter Redman, he raises the argument that the ‘AIDS carrier” becomes the central representation of the HIV epidemic and how the representations of HIV cannot be narrowed down to one cause. In addition, the ‘AIDS carrier’ is represented as monster and the carrier spreads HIV from the deviant subpopulations to the mainstream. Also, AIDS has been connected to social and moral issues and singles out groups like gay men, black people, and young single women. These groups are then viewed as diseased subpopulations and that causes others to feel disgust and panic. The heterosexual men are then afraid to have physical or emotional contact with men in general and that’s why boundaries of heterosexual masculinity were produced.
James Gilligan Preventing Violence Essay
1010 Words | 5 PagesIn most patriarchal societies, women are usually prized for remaining a virgin until marriage, and shamed if she isn’t, while the opposite is true for men. Women are clearly seen as objects of sex, as most rape victims are women, with male-on-male rape making the victim into a woman, as “to be a sex-object is to be a woman” (61-62). The hatred and contempt towards homosexuality has lead towards shame, and eventually for men, violence when the homophobic have their heterosexuality questioned. When questioned, these men feel the need to exaggerate their gender-role, their very masculinity, which results in exaggerated violence, fueled by rage and
Masculinity In The African City Summary
999 Words | 4 PagesRobert Wood traveled to Uganda in search of how the AIDS crisis had effected the men and women in the town of Bwaise. In his book AIDS and Masculinity in the African City: Privilege, Inequality, and Modern Manhood, he found that this crisis along with growing women’s economic opportunities have posed a threat on men’s sense of masculinity. These men are experiencing an identity crisis within their life because ideals in their work, authority, and sexuality are beginning to shift. This threat to a man’s masculinity is not only in Bwaise, but also in America. Gender equality and feminism have been on the rise and some men have felt threated by it for the same reason the Bwaise men feel threatened; it takes away their power and masculinity.
Hate Crimes In America Today
493 Words | 2 PagesCrimes involving sexuality took up 18% of hate crimes, with gay men being the main target, and the remaining 2% of hate crimes were committed based on
Analysis Of Not Just (Any) Body Can Be A Citizen By M. Jacqui Alexander
1447 Words | 6 PagesIn, “Not Just (Any) Body Can Be a Citizen”, author M. Jacqui Alexander explores, examines and expounds on the socio-political forces and machinations which have influenced the legislation in Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas, regarding specific sexual identities and manifestations. Primarily using the laws of both countries pertaining to sexual offenses, she discusses how homosexuality and other non-reproductive sexual acts and lifestyles have been outlawed in both nations. In her argument, she outlines how persons of such alternative lifestyles (including herself) have been carefully constructed as deviant, immoral and ultimately destructive to the moral and social fiber of the country. They are counterproductive to the state-imagined heteronormative, civilized state and, as such, must be criminalized and prohibited from enacting such “unnatural” behavior within the general society. More specifically, however,
Gun Violence And Hate Crimes
1058 Words | 5 PagesAccording to Meyer (2008), many people, because of the intersection with race and sexual orientation, find it difficult to determine whether the violence is rooted in homophobia, racism, or both. When LGBTQ people of color experience violence, many aspects of their identity is being attacked. Most of the volence experienced by that LGBTQ people of color encounter is simultaneusly racist, misogynistic, and homophobic. The difference in experience between people of color and white individuals of the LGBTQ commuinty, can be understood by addressing the social construction of white privilege. Barbara Perry, hate crime scholar, argues that hate motivated violence is a social control mechanism rooted in institutional power structures.
Homosexuality And Deviance
1044 Words | 5 PagesSome societies may even punish one for being homosexual because it violates their social norms. While gay rights have improved over the years and people are more accepting than they use to be, we still have countries like Saudi Arabia and other middle eastern countries along with Nigeria and a few other African countries that execute people for just loving someone of the
C. W. Mills Sociological Imagination
675 Words | 3 PagesIn most countries worldwide, gay marriage is illegal, forcing homosexuals to remain hidden out of a sense of shame and fear. Many religions, including Judaism and Islam, forbid homosexual acts and behaviour. This is worrying for society as one may not be accepted by one’s own religion, as well as being rejected by society. Furthermore, homosexuality is constantly slated over social media, providing a negative aura surrounding the subject. All these factors influence the fear and shame of an individual.
Argumentative Essay On Homosexuality
1161 Words | 5 PagesIn 2009, The United Kingdom Hindu Council issued a statement that 'Hinduism does not condemn homosexuality ', subsequent to the decision of the Delhi High Court to legalise homosexuality in India. Probably, this is the only issue for which the priests, Babas & Maulanas from different faiths have been united and agree to raise one voice on this topic. Many of them have told on TV how homosexuality is against the "great Indian culture". But, if one takes a quick glance at the ancient Indian culture, mythology etc, this topic is not new.
Sociological Perspective On Sexuality
928 Words | 4 PagesSociological Perspectives Sexuality has three assumptions to it 1. Sexuality of members 2. Institutions of society such as family, religion, 3. What is appropriateness or inappropriateness of sexual behavior with in the cultural it occurs in.
Essay On Polygamy In Africa
984 Words | 4 PagesHowever, the sexual benefits are not the main functions, polygyny is reducing in Africa not as a result of the intervention of westernization but for the varying economy and the general usual cultural climate. Customarily, most African communities have experienced a custom polygamy. Prior to the arrival of Christianity in Africa, polygamy was not considered evil, the custom permits a man to marry as many spouse as he can cater and support, they are married agreeing to local customs and legitimate in the comprehension of local
More about Homosexuality In Africa
Tony Kushner's Angels In America
678 Words | 3 PagesTony Kushner's Angels In America
689 Words | 3 PagesTony Kushner's Angels In America
664 Words | 3 PagesAfrica In World Politics Chapter Summary
859 Words | 4 PagesSummary Of Aids By Peter Redman
569 Words | 3 PagesJames Gilligan Preventing Violence Essay
1010 Words | 5 PagesMasculinity In The African City Summary
999 Words | 4 PagesHate Crimes In America Today
493 Words | 2 PagesAnalysis Of Not Just (Any) Body Can Be A Citizen By M. Jacqui Alexander
1447 Words | 6 PagesGun Violence And Hate Crimes
1058 Words | 5 PagesHomosexuality And Deviance
1044 Words | 5 PagesC. W. Mills Sociological Imagination
675 Words | 3 PagesArgumentative Essay On Homosexuality
1161 Words | 5 PagesSociological Perspective On Sexuality
928 Words | 4 PagesEssay On Polygamy In Africa
984 Words | 4 Pages