http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Sun, 2 Mar 2008 21:39:00 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2008/02/29/111700.php#comment-323380 Harold: ""Same gender sex is a sensitive area for discussion and from what I read from various sources is still basically taboo in India, not the discussion but the practice"' In some cases though, the discussion is more taboo than the practice...as in "don't tell me about it". Good post! Thanks! 323380@desicritics.org Sun, 2 Mar 2008 21:39:00 EST http://desicritics.org/2008/02/29/111700.php#comment-323377 test 323377@desicritics.org Sun, 2 Mar 2008 21:11:15 EST http://desicritics.org/2008/02/29/111700.php#comment-323376 Anona; So true, we are all products, or as you say victims of our environment. Let there be one place in the world where women do not equate freedom with sexual liberty. Agreed. There are few such places. Homosexuality also, that you mentioned, is a result of the genetic and social environment of individuals and let there be some place for them in the world as well. Loving human beings who have a place under the sun. Deepa, thanks for you comments. So thoughtful and to the point. I am aware of the history of men having sex with younger pubescent men. Some anthropologists theorize that it may have come from a long evolution from ape ancestors and such behaviors can still be seen in bonobo apes. Same gender sex is a sensitive area for discussion and from what I read from various sources is still basically taboo in India, not the discussion but the practice. I accept your statement 'is connecting two unrelated items'. Cross dressing is done for a variety of reasons in different cultures (see reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-dressing) I always appreciate your comments Deepa. Thanks. Commonsense; 'although the latter could be a factor too'. Agreed. I have traveled through huge areas of Waziristan and Baluchistan and there were times when several days passed and I nary saw a single woman. It was a disquieting and unnerving experience considering that half of a population was nowhere to be seen. Thanks for the comments. 323376@desicritics.org Sun, 2 Mar 2008 21:10:48 EST http://desicritics.org/2008/02/29/111700.php#comment-323189 Deepa: ""Eunuchs perform because it is considered auspicious, for a variety of reasons. And not because there are no women around." True, true. The interweaving of a variety of cosmologies, belief-systems...not necessarily an outcome of gender segregation, although the latter could be a factor too... 323189@desicritics.org Sat, 1 Mar 2008 11:54:50 EST http://desicritics.org/2008/02/29/111700.php#comment-323168 Dear Harold - I want to make two unrelated observations: 1) I'm sure you know that sex with young pubescent men is a common and well established custom among humans. It was considered normal in Greece as far back as Alexander's time, and was common in the Muslim Sultanates in India. There is some very lovely Urdu poetry, almost mystical, dedicated to these affairs between men and boys. It is only recently that we've become very sensitive to both same-gender sex as well as children engaging in sex. 2) The role of eunuchs at weddings and other family celebrations has nothing to do with whether that society's women are veiled or not. The Wall Street Journal, by saying "In a society that strictly segregates women and men, these transgender musicaians perform for male audiences" is connecting two unrelated items. Eunuchs perform because it is considered auspicious, for a variety of reasons. And not because there are no women around. 323168@desicritics.org Sat, 1 Mar 2008 09:11:13 EST http://desicritics.org/2008/02/29/111700.php#comment-323066 "Concealing women within society to the point that the normal urge for heterosexual interaction must be satisfied with men acting as women singing in falsetto voices and wiggling their hips and breasts to satisfy the prurient needs of a sexually repressed society?" Yes, I have seen these she-mans and as a Westerner, was surprised as well. However, I believe most Pakistani women are concealing themselves willingly. Sure, they have been told to do so by society, but who is not a victim to their environment? Do you really think that if the women got out to shake their booty for the world to see that homosexuality would cease? Doubtful. At least let there be one place in the world where women do not equate freedom with sexual liberty. If you look for dirt in a society, you will never be disappointed. 323066@desicritics.org Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:16:05 EST