Sex and the Citadel Summary

The history of Muslim societies reveals a dynamic interplay between sexuality, culture, and religion; can rediscovering this history pave the way to sexual freedom in the modern era?

1. Historical Sexual Freedom in Muslim Societies

Centuries ago, Muslim societies embraced a culture of sexual openness and acceptance. Travelers like French author Gustave Flaubert in the mid-1800s described Egypt, for example, as a vibrant hub of sensuality, where brothels were commonplace, and homosexuality was openly acknowledged. Such accounts highlight the stark contrast between this historical freedom and today's restrictive norms.

The liberal attitudes towards sexuality can be traced back to the fourteenth century. During this time, sexual discussions were neither taboo nor hidden. Art, literature, and even law reflected an acknowledgment and appreciation for the sensual aspects of life. However, as Western colonization spread, these values shifted dramatically.

Colonialism brought western moral standards, which gradually seeped into Muslim societies. As Muslims faced military and cultural defeat, they began to experience "foreigner complex," a form of internalized inferiority. Reformers like the Muslim Brotherhood equated military losses with immoral behavior and advocated for a stricter moral code rooted in sharia law. This repression still echoes in many Muslim societies today.

Examples

• Gustave Flaubert’s descriptions of Egypt as sexually liberated in the 1840s.
• The flourishing of sensual art and literature during the fourteenth century in the Muslim world.
• The shift after Napoleon’s 1798 invasion of Egypt, marking a new era of moral conservatism.

2. Sexual Repression Breeds Discontent

Sexual repression in Muslim societies has led to widespread dissatisfaction and ignorance about intimacy. With minimal sex education and limited open discussions, many Muslims grow up ill-equipped to build healthy sexual relationships.

A study conducted in 2006 by gynecologist AM Elnashar revealed revealing statistics. Examining a thousand married Egyptian women, over 70 percent were unhappy with their sex lives or faced sexual issues. Further, a third of these women reported painful intercourse, and half cited a lack of desire or difficulty achieving orgasm.

Efforts to change the narrative have begun, like the Egyptian talk show "Kalam Kabiir," hosted by sex therapist Heba Kotb. Kotb openly discusses taboo topics like wedding-night anxiety and pornography while educating viewers on sexual anatomy and communication. However, the need for such initiatives highlights the deep-rooted cultural issue.

Examples

• Elnashar’s survey, where 70 percent of women reported dissatisfaction with their sex lives.
• Heba Kotb’s “Kalam Kabiir,” tackling sexually taboo topics on a widely watched talk show.
• Painful intercourse reported by one-third of married Egyptian women surveyed in 2006.

3. Virginity Obsession and Harmful Practices

Muslim women face severe pressure surrounding their virginity, forcing many to turn to medical procedures and subterfuge. In Egypt, women must often provide virginity certificates before marriage, making hymen reconstruction surgeries disturbingly common.

An unbroken hymen symbolizes a woman’s “purity,” despite the fact that physical activity like sports or accidents can tear it. Some couples even attempt alternative forms of intimacy to preserve this fragile marker, yet they risk inadvertently breaking it.

To meet cultural demands, some women use low-cost services to fake virginity. These range from sutures to artificial hymens, creating a red fluid during intercourse. However, these measures are often expensive, risky, and emotionally burdensome.

Examples

• Virginity testing as a booming industry, with certificates often required before marriage.
• Hymen reconstruction surgeries costing up to $2,000 amidst growing demand.
• Outcry and banning of artificial hymens in Egypt after their introduction in 2009.

4. Cinema and the Battle Between Expression and Censorship

While films in the Arab world have cautiously addressed sexuality, censorship often dilutes or removes such themes altogether. Egypt’s film industry, known as the Arab Hollywood, has a historical precedent for exploring sensual narratives, dating back to the 1960s and '70s.

Recent films, like 2010’s “Ahasis,” hint at women’s struggles for sexual fulfillment but face restrictions. Erotic scenes or even indirect implications of intimacy are usually censored, leading to bland portrayals of human relationships.

With new movements like "clean cinema," driven by fundamentalist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, censorship has only deepened. Depictions contrasting sexuality with religion draw immediate backlash, further silencing critical conversations about desire and modern identity.

Examples

• “Ahasis,” highlighting dissatisfied wives exploring affairs, stripped of its erotic content.
• The era of 1970s Egyptian films starring sex symbol Yousra, emblematic of freer expression.
• A film shutdown over featuring a prostitute arranged by a character wearing a headscarf.

5. Temporary Marriages and Exploitation

Temporary marriages, rooted in traditional Muslim practice, have evolved into avenues for legalized sex work. Known as zawaj misyaf, these arrangements provide loopholes for men to evade prohibition while exploiting desperate women.

Men seeking short-term companionship exploit zawaj misyaf to secure sexual access. For impoverished families, such practices transcend moral considerations; these marriages mean survival. A poignant example is Samia, sold into a one-week “marriage” by her father, providing her family financial stability for years.

Although temporary marriages provide legal cover, they often leave women emotionally scarred and reinforce systems that exploit the vulnerable. This practice thrives amidst the inadequacies of modern sexual laws in Muslim societies.

Examples

• Zawaj misyaf, facilitating short-lived unions under Islamic law to avoid vice charges.
• Samia, traded for 20,000 Egyptian pounds under a temporary marriage arrangement in Cairo.
• Cairo police’s inability to prosecute temporary marriage participants due to the legal façade.

6. Homosexuality’s Hidden Struggles

Homosexuality remains taboo in Muslim societies, often ignored, stigmatized, or insulted. Arabic lacks positive terms for sexual diversity, resorting to slurs like "shaz" or "deviant" for labeling LGBTQ+ individuals.

Dealing with the stigma, gay men often live double lives to avoid societal retribution. Hisham, a married gay man with children, carries on secret relationships with male partners while maintaining his familial identity.

However, others appreciate societal discretion. Anwar, a gay artist in Cairo, values that Egypt’s silence on labels lets his work stand independently from his sexuality. Still, these attitudes point to the broader denial of individual identity in Muslim culture.

Examples

• Arabic’s limited vocabulary for LGBTQ+ terms, heavily strewn with insults.
• Hisham, balancing a conventional family life and hidden homosexuality.
• Anwar, leveraging societal discretion to focus on his art rather than sexual identity.

7. The Role of the West in Supporting Change

Western societies can help foster sexual emancipation in Muslim cultures, but the support must be subtle and aligned with existing grassroots efforts. Funding local organizations proves more effective than imposing Western frameworks.

Egyptian civil groups focusing on HIV prevention and family planning rely on donations, such as the $65 million sent post-2011 uprising. However, Western insistence on secular or highly progressive values undermines these organizations’ local credibility, subjecting them to radical political backlash.

By recognizing that reform doesn’t require mirroring Western norms, partnering with native organizations promotes gradual but firm progress. Revisiting vibrant Islamic history may inspire a return to freer, inclusive attitudes towards sexuality.

Examples

• The success of the $65 million donation post-Egypt’s 2011 uprising for civil organizations.
• The limitations of Western sexual rights standards in conservative Muslim settings.
• Historical proof of Islamic societies’ rich sensuality as inspiration for reform movements.

Takeaways

1. Support grassroots organizations in Muslim societies dedicated to sexual education and personal rights through donations or awareness campaigns.
2. Engage in honest but respectful conversations about sexuality across cultural divides to foster understanding and challenge taboos.
3. Learn from history and explore how once-liberated societies can evolve towards a balance between traditional and modern values without external imposition.