The dramatic impact of Islamic fundamentalism in recent years has skewed our image of Islamic history and culture. Stereotypes depict Islamic societies as economically backward; hyper-patriarchal; and fanatically religious. But in fact; the Islamic world encompasses a great diversity of cultures and a great deal of variation within those cultures in terms of gender roles and sexuality. The first collection on this topic from a historical and anthropological perspective; Homosexuality in the Muslim World reveals that patterns of male and female homosexuality have existed and often flourished within the Islamic world. Indeed; same-sex relations have; until quite recently; been much more tolerated under Islam than in the Christian West. Based on the latest theoretical perspectives in gender studies; feminism; and gay studies; Homosexuality in the Muslim World includes cultural and historical analyses of the entire Islamic world; not just the so-called Middle East. Essays show both age-stratified patterns of homosexuality; as revealed in the erotic and romantic poetry of medieval poets; and gender-based patterns; in which both men and women might; to varying degrees; choose to live as members of the opposite sex. The contributors draw on historical documents; literary texts; ethnographic observation and direct observation by both Muslim and non-Muslim authors to show the considerable diversity of Islamic societies and the existence of tolerated gender and sexual variances.
#822482 in Books NYU Press 2006-02-06 2006-02-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .60 x 6.00l; .72 #File Name: 0814731201238 pages
Review
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The Hand and Rope Games Black Girls PlayBy Music LadyThis book was inspirational and because I am a female I was truly interested in this book. It went into details about the what and the why's of the hand or rope games girls play.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Groundbreaking book!By CustomerThis book is a must read for all students of Girls' Studies; African American Studies; and Music. Gaunt's scholarship paved the way for current scholarship on Black girlhood and continues to inform academic conversations about youth culture; creativity; and sound studies. This book is such a game changer! Buy it today!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A terrific read and central scholarshipBy karlyn crowleyThis book is essential reading for anyone who cares not only about the history of girls games and music; black girls experience; but also the origins of hip hop. Hip Hop lineage is often conceived of as male--Gaunt reimagines the critical and central role that black girls music and games play in hip hop's story and also in influencing culture generally. A terrific read and central scholarship.
