Week 7 BRYAN MUNOZ 156

Indeed, homosexuality, described by Murray and Roscoe as mostly a Western invention to suppress the East, is largely accepted in Muslim societies as evidenced by the cultural norms, though rarely spoken of publicly. “Done discreetly, one is able to pretend that nothing has happened.” (Murray, 18) By this, he is suggesting  that as long as you don’t fall from grace and get caught in the act, your business is your business. This tolerance only works if and when man continues “his family line and does not throw away property indulging his vices.”  This is so true. There’s also this dichotomy between role functions of men and women within society. Whereas men are versatile and can perform equally well in the bedroom as a top or bottom, women are only good for one thing: that is procreation.

            Comparably, this concept of homosexuality is discounted by Najmabadi who doesn’t exactly agree. While Murray describes it as sort of hush hush understanding in society and “will not to know, ” ideology about homosexuality,  Najmabadi says it was not unusual to find people mention someone’s sexual preference when describing them. I found this difference important for perspective.   In addition to the pedestal little boys were placed on by Islamic values, it’s impressive just how little is talked about women and gender and sexuality . The one example where Murray talks about a  owry of 15 pounds offered for a pre-pubescent boy as a opposed to 1 pound  gift for a girl, shows this inherent liking for boys as a society and flagrant disregard for following western social norms.