Download Sexuality in Islamic societies

Sexuality in Islamic Societies
From Advancing Sexuality Studies:
a short course on sexuality theory
and research methodologies
Schedule
Learning Activity
Time allowed
Course introduction, schedule, aims
20 mins
Session 1. Challenging stereotypes
Quiz and discussion
75 mins
Session 2. The social regulation of sexuality in Islamic societies
Pre-reading review
Lecture and discussions
35 mins
190 mins
Session 3. Engaging in research and debate on sexuality within
Islamic societies
Optional activities. Participants will choose to either:
Run panel discussions on selected topics or
Develop guidelines for ethical research within Islamic communities
65 mins
Conclusion
15 mins
Total time:
400 mins
( just over 6.5 hours)
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Module aims
To:
• Encourage students to challenge popular myths and
negative attitudes towards sexuality in Islamic societies
• Provide an overview of the social regulation of sexuality in
Islamic societies
• Take into account historical, cultural and textual influences
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Participants will:
• Engage with a range of issues that feature in contemporary
debates on Islam and sexuality
• Undertake cross-cultural comparisons in relation to these
issues and develop their critical thinking skills in relation to
this topic
• Engage in active learning through participation in module
activities
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Module scope
• This module:
– Does not focus on Islamic jurisprudence
– Does not take a legalistic approach
– Does not support purely textual approaches to understanding
Islam that posit that religion should be interpreted in an ahistorical
manner
• Such approaches require a significant amount of expert
knowledge of the Qur’an, hadith and Arabic
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This module will focus on topics related to sexuality and Islam
that engage with five key human rights issues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Female veiling and Islam
Polygamy in Islamic societies
Sex education for Muslim youth
Homosexuality and Islam
Female circumcision and Islam
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Session 1.
Challenging stereotypes
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Quiz
Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
1. Female circumcision is a religious requirement for Muslim
women
2. A person cannot be both Muslim and homosexual
3. The veiling of Muslim women amounts to sexual oppression
4. Because Muslims are required to abstain from sex before
marriage, sex education is irrelevant and dangerous for Muslim
youth
5. Muslim women have no choice but to accept polygamy if their
husband’s wish is to have multiple wives
……cont.
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Quiz (cont.)
6. Human sexual relations are viewed as innately sinful in the
Qur’an
7. The sexual defamation of women and the making of unfounded
accusations that illicit sex (zina) has occurred constitute crimes
under Islamic law
8. Illicit sex (zina) is only a crime for women under Islamic law
9. The sexual oppression of Muslim women stems from the poor
treatment by the Prophet Mohammed of his wives
10. The hadith (utterances of the Prophet) are not open to
interpretation in relation to matters of gender and sexuality
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Responses
•
Female circumcision
–
–
•
A person cannot be both Muslim and homosexual
–
–
•
Cultural practice, not religious requirement
Fewer Islamic cultures practise this than do not practise it
No reference in the Qur’an or hadith saying that homosexuality is impossible
for Muslims
Numerous rich traditions of homosexuality and transgender identities in
multiple Islamic societies
The veiling of Muslim women amounts to sexual oppression
–
Important right for Muslim women to choose (many Muslim women value
their head dress for reasons of religious practice and identity)
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• Sex education
– Access to sex education both delays the age of sexual initiation and reduces
the incidence of unwanted premarital sex (WHO, 1997)
– Sex education for Muslim (all) youth prevents them from having sex prior to
marriage without adequate knowledge
• Polygamy
– Muslim men are not allowed to take more than one wife if the first or
subsequent wives do not consent to the proposed marriage
– A man may not take an additional wife if he is unable to support all wives
equally in terms of both economic emotional and social requirements
• Human sexual relations
– Innately positive and sacred; not seen as ‘original sin’
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• Sexual defamation and unfounded accusations
– Punishment for unfounded, defamatory sexual gossip should be greater than
that set out for sexual indiscretions
• Illicit sex (zina)
– Of equal significance for women and men
– Often only women who are punished in highly conservative regimes that do not
follow the Qu’ranic principles of gender equality and non-violence
• The Prophet and his wives
– Deep commitment to women’s rights and improving their status
• Interpretation of hadith (utterances of the Prophet)
– Long and rich tradition of interpeting hadith related to gender and sexuality
– Among the most highly contested fields of study
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Session 2.
The social regulation of
sexuality in Islamic societies
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Pre-reading review
Bennett, L. R. 2005. ‘Islam as a medium for promoting reproductive rights’, in Women, Islam and
Modernity: Single Women, Sexuality and Reproductive Health in Contemporary Indonesia.
London/New York: Routledge/Curzon, Chapter 6 pages 145-150
Boellstorff, T. 2005 ‘Between Religion and Desire: being Muslim and Gay in Indonesia’,
American Anthropologist, 107 (4), 575-585
Othman, N. 2000 ‘Sexuality and gender rights: A sociological perspective’, in Z. Anwar and R.
Abdullah eds. Islam, Reproductive Health and Women’s Rights. Kuala Lumpur: Sisters in
Islam, 77-105 (read only pages 86-105)
• Focus question:
– How is the social regulation of sexuality apparent in the
pre-readings for this module?
(15 mins)
• Feedback and wrap-up
(20 mins)
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Question and answer session
• What do we mean by sexuality?
– Biological sex and behaviour, beliefs, values and norms
• Incorporates sexual desire, knowledge, techniques and experience,
identities and orientation
– Sexuality and gender distinct, not synonymous
• What do we mean by the social regulation of sexuality?
– Every society (Muslim or non-Muslim) regulates sexuality
• Age of consent, certain sexual practices illegal (e.g. sex between siblings)
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• How is sexuality conceptualised in Islamic societies?
– No one set of sexual ideals and beliefs, but common or popular
ways of understanding sexuality
– Sex positive approach (enjoyment of sex not inherently sinful)
– ‘Sensual modesty’ (Bennett, 2005)
– Double theory of female sexuality: explicit / implicit (Mernissi 1985)
• Explicit = passivity, female sexual subjugation to men
• Implicit = active and dangerous, has to be restrained
• Can lead to control under the guise of ‘protection’
– Heterosexuality viewed as ‘natural’
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• Where do the varied understandings of sexuality in Islamic
societies stem from?
– Interpretations of the Qur’an, hadith (utterances of the Prophet)
and sunnah (the example and customary practice of the Prophet)
• Localised teachings of Islamic clerics
• Local practices of Islamic cultures, both historical and contemporary
– Shariah courts or law, both through their legislation and operation
– State laws
– Mass media & publications
• Including prayer books, television, radio, and popular Islamic music
……cont.
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– Contemporary Islamic movements and their teachings (including
revivalist and reform movements)
– Islamic scholars (including feminist and human rights scholars)
– Islamic activists (particularly in the fields of reproductive rights
and sexuality – e.g. Sisters in Islam)
– Islamic peer groups and prayer groups and distinct Islamic
subcultures
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• Homosexuality and Islam
– Widely believed that homosexuality is forbidden in Islam but term
homosexuality does not exist in the Qu’ran
– Most understandings based on the story of Lut
– Some Islamic scholars challenge heterosexism of mainstream
interpretations of the Qu’ran
– Words often taken to refer to homosexuality include:
•
•
•
•
Al Fahisha (e.g. in 7:80 & 27:54) Atrocity or gruesome deeds
Al Khabaidh (e.g. in 21:74) Improper or unseemly things
Al Munkar (e.g. in 29:29) That which is reprehensible
As Sayyi'aat (e.g. in 11:78) Bad or evil deeds
http://www.safraproject.org/sgi-malesexualityandislam.htm
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• Moves to make Islam more inclusive of same-sex
relationships
• Homosexuals also created by Allah; sinful to lie about who
they are
• Range of sexual and gender identities and practices,
existed since the time of the Prophet
• Vast number of same-sex attracted Muslims
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• How does Islam regulate human sexuality?
– All actions (including sexual behaviour) defined as either halal
(permissible) or haram (non-permissible)
• Sexual relations between men and women who are married to each other,
based on mutual consent and do not cause harm: halal
• Sexual relations outside of marriage: haram. Referred to as zina (illicit sex)
• Qu’ran definition:
ZINA
Sexual intercourse
between a man and a
woman who are not
married
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ANY
SEXUAL
CONTACT
BEFORE
MARRIAGE
MASTURBATION
PREMARITIAL SEX
RAPE
PROSTITUTION
INCEST
ANAL SEX
ORAL
SEX
SAME-SEX
SEXUAL
CONTACT
EXTRAMARITIAL SEX
IVF WITH DONOR WHO
IS NOT THE HUSBAND
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• Marriage is the most structured and obvious mechanism for
regulating sexuality in Islam
–
–
–
–
Who can marry (and when women can remarry)
Minimum age
Who can consent
Conditions of marriage contract
• Obligations re: child support and alimony
–
–
–
–
Legality (or otherwise) of polygamy & divorce
Temporary marriage
Use of contraception
Punishments & regulation of sexual gossip and slander
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• Other practices, influences and structures:
–
–
–
–
–
Islamic dress codes (which exist for both sexes)
Restrictions on male and female use of public space
Conventions around prayer and hygiene
Various forms of female genital cutting
Censorship and control over knowledge around sexuality and
reproduction – e.g. sex education for Muslim youth
– Family planning & health promotion policies and programs
– Laws to prevent and punish sexual violence
• Punishment of sexual transgressions through social exclusion, stigma and
violence in extreme circumstances
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• Why does Islam regulate sexuality?
– For the protection of the umah (the community of Muslims)
– Perceived benefits of this regulation include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Clarity of paternity
Ensuring male responsibility for women and their children
Preventing conflict arising from sexual jealousy
The protection of health
Preventing sexual violence
Preventing conflict arising from sexual frustration
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Session 3.
Engaging in research &
debate on sexuality within
Islamic societies
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Option 1: Debate
•
Five topics to choose from:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Female veiling and Islam
Polygamy in Islamic societies
Sex education
Homosexuality and Islam
Female circumcision and Islam
•
Group preparation / reading
(30 mins)
•
Debate
(20 mins)
•
Feedback and wrap-up
(15 mins)
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Option 2: Research guidelines
• Brainstorm experiences or ideas regarding the challenges
of undertaking ethical sexuality research within Muslim
communities
(15 mins)
• Responses?
• Possible guidelines?
(20 mins + 5 mins review)
(10 mins)
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•
10 key concepts for halal (permissible) research (Bennett):
1. Human sexuality is not sinful, and can be appropriately
discussed and debated
2. Learning and intellectual inquiry is highly valued in Islam and
research into human behaviour is encouraged
3. Discussions and explorations of sexuality among Muslims need
to be gender appropriate
4. Discussions and explorations of sexuality among Muslims need
to respect personal modesty and privacy
5. Research should have positive intent – it should be for the
explicit benefit of the umah (Muslim community)
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6. Research should involve appropriate dialogue, based on the
Islamic principle of consultation
7. Avoid causing harm through (possibly unintended or
unconsidered) sexual stigma
8. Avoid deception, in line with the Islamic principle of truth
9. Women research participants should be able to consent for
themselves, in line with Islamic principles of gender equity
10. The religious and cultural diversity of different Islamic
communities should be understood and respected by
researchers
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Conclusion
• Relationships between Islamic sexuality, reproduction and
control of the human body are complex and dynamic
• Conflicts of belief, opinions, values, especially around:
–
–
–
–
Sexuality, shame and the value of life
Islamic fundamentalism
Circumcision
Sexual violence
• According to Islam, only Allah knows the true intent behind
human actions. Only Allah can pass moral judgement
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• Module created by:
– Dr Linda Rae Bennett, Australian Research Centre in Sex,
Health and Society
• Short course developed by:
– The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and
Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
and
– The International Association for the Study of Sexuality,
Culture and Society (IASSCS)
– With funding from The Ford Foundation
Available under an Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike licence from
Creative Commons
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