I’m currently in the painstaking throes of compiling a proposal for a forthcoming conference on gender-based violence, with a focus on sexual identity in the Middle East, and have been struck by a number of research issues that have arisen.
Primarily, I am staggered by the relatively low count of publications – or recent publications – on sexual identity in the region.
This of course is fabulous news for a researcher, but after reading the following conclusion by As’ad AbuKhalil, aka the formidable Angry Arab, in his 1997 paper ‘Gender Boundaries and Sexual Categories in the Arab World’ [Feminist Issues], I have become slightly disconcerted and deeply indignant:
Homosexuals remain outside of the scope of academic studies. The study of homosexuality in Middle East studies will almost guarantee a future of academic unemployment. Moreover, many heterosexuals avoid the study of homosexuality
for fear of the homosexual stigma, the fear of which still afflicts Western and Eastern societies. This has enabled homophobes and journalists in the East and West to study to subject for pure ideological reasons.
Homosexuals remain outside of the scope of academic studies. The study of homosexuality in Middle East studies will almost guarantee a future of academic unemployment. Moreover, many heterosexuals avoid the study of homosexuality for fear of the homosexual stigma, the fear of which still afflicts Western and Eastern societies. This has enabled homophobes and journalists in the East and West to study to [sic.] subject for pure ideological reasons. [p. 103]
Bearing in mind that this paper is 12-years-old, I wonder if the notion that studying “homosexuality in Middle East studies will almost guarantee a future of academic unemployment” is still the case?
If so, why?
Why is it even still taboo for any researcher, specifically Western?
The notion of a fear of a ‘homosexual stigma’ is befuddling, too – have we not advanced enough as a human race to not be concerned – at least in academic circles – that one might be thought of as a lesbian, purely because one writes on the matter?
If I write about goats, does it mean I am one? It is a silly analogy, but no less so than that of the above.
Perhaps this fear is a reality – but if so, it is an embarrassing reality and one that we should hang our heads in shame at.
Foremost, there should be no fear of such a stigma, for there is no shame in being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
Secondly, we should focus more on the research findings – in my case, finding ways to eliminate violence based on sexual identity – and less on the personal choices of the writer.
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