The book I have chosen for analytical essay is The Construction of Homosexuality written by David F. Greenberg. To briefly summarize, it walks through a historical timeline of homosexuality and the way it was treated, perceived, and handled within different societies. From early Native American berdaches, Pakistani bedaghs, and Persian bardags, forms of homosexuality and homosexual relationships have always been present in many forms, whether it be transgenerational, transgenderal, or egalitarian. Homosexual acts and relationships that are referred to as transgenerational, are those with partners of disparate ages. In many cultures this was through the form of pederasty with an older male initiate, and a younger male recipient. Often times
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Thus modeling their homosexual relations after a heterosexual pattern. This form of homosexuality is best-studied and found amongst the Indians of North America. Several Indians born male adopted a female identity and vice-versa with women, though it was more common with men. The French named them berdaches. Berdaches typically transitioned their roles and genders in late adolescence to young adulthood, usually after visits from female spirits or goddesses ordered them to be women right before their male-puberty rite. However, several berdaches, both male and female, were selected at birth or during infancy to become berdaches by their parents. Some were even determined around the ages of 6-10 when the child would show more interest in the roles of the opposite sex. That would be young boys weaving baskets and making clothes and jewelry, and young girls preferring the glory of hunting and fighting in war. If the child took more interest in the roles that did not fit their sex at birth, then the parents would discard their previous identity and raise them as the opposite gender, with different clothes, tasks, and sometimes names being assigned to …show more content…
Sometimes the tribes view depended on the age, marital status, or gender of the participant. This contributes to the scarcity of documented lesbianism. In countries like India and in tribes such as the Kwoma or the Alorese. If was taboo for women to partake in homosexual affairs, but less so for men. Often in places with institutionalized homosexuality, affairs of the nature were often expected to cease after a coming of a certain age, or marriage, until they were to partake in a coming of age ritual to give rite to the younger generations. Tribes with no institutionalized homosexuality often see it among all ages, and treat the pair as lovers and members of society non the less. One of the more tolerant and accepting groups of people were Native Americans in regards to berdaches. Berdaches were treated as well as everyone else in the tribe, often being called “honorable”, “brave”, and “powerful.” Some went on to become respected chiefs of council, or highly honored war heroes and leaders. However, in several tribes, the Natives changed their opinions when the Europeans came along. When they learned the Europeans scorned relationships of that nature, many of them changed their views on berdaches to “shameful”, “cowardly”, and “ridiculous”. Even so many never did more than joke or tease berdaches rather than try and change or banish
Thus modeling their homosexual relations after a heterosexual pattern. This form of homosexuality is best-studied and found amongst the Indians of North America. Several Indians born male adopted a female identity and vice-versa with women, though it was more common with men. The French named them berdaches. Berdaches typically transitioned their roles and genders in late adolescence to young adulthood, usually after visits from female spirits or goddesses ordered them to be women right before their male-puberty rite. However, several berdaches, both male and female, were selected at birth or during infancy to become berdaches by their parents. Some were even determined around the ages of 6-10 when the child would show more interest in the roles of the opposite sex. That would be young boys weaving baskets and making clothes and jewelry, and young girls preferring the glory of hunting and fighting in war. If the child took more interest in the roles that did not fit their sex at birth, then the parents would discard their previous identity and raise them as the opposite gender, with different clothes, tasks, and sometimes names being assigned to …show more content…
Sometimes the tribes view depended on the age, marital status, or gender of the participant. This contributes to the scarcity of documented lesbianism. In countries like India and in tribes such as the Kwoma or the Alorese. If was taboo for women to partake in homosexual affairs, but less so for men. Often in places with institutionalized homosexuality, affairs of the nature were often expected to cease after a coming of a certain age, or marriage, until they were to partake in a coming of age ritual to give rite to the younger generations. Tribes with no institutionalized homosexuality often see it among all ages, and treat the pair as lovers and members of society non the less. One of the more tolerant and accepting groups of people were Native Americans in regards to berdaches. Berdaches were treated as well as everyone else in the tribe, often being called “honorable”, “brave”, and “powerful.” Some went on to become respected chiefs of council, or highly honored war heroes and leaders. However, in several tribes, the Natives changed their opinions when the Europeans came along. When they learned the Europeans scorned relationships of that nature, many of them changed their views on berdaches to “shameful”, “cowardly”, and “ridiculous”. Even so many never did more than joke or tease berdaches rather than try and change or banish