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Homophobia in Target Language Countries | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion | ( Topic Closed) |  |
| craig24 Newbie Canada Joined 5699 days ago 2 posts - 2 votes Speaks: English* | Message 1 of 56 20 April 2009 at 4:05pm | IP Logged | ||
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So, this topic sorta got started in Ashley's thread about racism, but I didn't want to hijack it and go off topic;)
First off, I just want to say that this thread is no place for arguing about whether or not you agree with homosexuality or not, I just need some help. I'm looking at taking up Arabic, specifically because I would like to become a diplomat some day and I think the language is really cool. However, I'm not the kind of person who just likes learning languages solely for the language - I always want to visit the country where they speak it and maybe even live there for a few years. But the problem is, I've heard so much about countries where Arabic is spoken, and how horrible they can be to gay people; I believe in some countries you can even be sentenced to death for homosexual acts. Is it really this bad? I'd really appreciate some info because I'd like to learn Arabic and expierience their culture, but don't want to be put in a bad situation. By the way, this question is open not just to Arabic countries, but to around the world. I'd also like to know how gay people are treated in Japan and China. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Paramecium Tetraglot Groupie Germany Joined 5714 days ago 46 posts - 59 votes  Speaks: German*, English, French, Russian Studies: Japanese | Message 2 of 56 20 April 2009 at 5:01pm | IP Logged | ||
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Yes in all arabic countries, except the Palestinian territories are laws against homosexual relationships. In Egypt,Libya, Syria for example you can get punishments of 3 years prison. In other countries even more.
In countries like Sudan, Yemen, United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia exists the death penalty for practising homosexuality. I can't really imagine that they will punish a foreign, but I am not sure. It would be too much to write about all the countries where are laws against homosexuality. But you will find such laws on every continent except Europe. In Japan, China and Korea (North and South) for example doesn't exist such law. In India you also can get a life imprisonment for practising it. Edited by Paramecium on 20 April 2009 at 5:07pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Tabula Rasa Newbie United States Joined 5722 days ago 7 posts - 12 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French, German, Greek | Message 3 of 56 20 April 2009 at 6:00pm | IP Logged | ||
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I recommend you browse the reports on www.talesmag.com. Most people give an honest assessment on what you
might expect in any given country. As for Arab countries, one thing that is frequently mentioned is that although homosexuality is illegal, cultural norms dictate that men can freely express friendship with each other -- holding hands, walking arm in arm, etc. Much, much more than male/female couples can. Also that the behavior of expats is generally ignored. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Aquedita Triglot Senior Member Poland myspace.com/aqueda_v Joined 6016 days ago 154 posts - 164 votes Speaks: Polish*, English, Japanese Studies: Mandarin | Message 4 of 56 20 April 2009 at 6:06pm | IP Logged | ||
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As far as I know, in China, 2 men holding hands while walking down the streets is a perfectly normal view. It doesn't have to imply that they are gay or sexually attracted to eachother, but just that they're close. I've heard that from my Chinese teacher. My colleague who is on a scholarship in Taiwan at the moment wrote on his blog that once he and a group of his fellow exchange students saw some lesbians. The Chinese people didn't care at all, but some exchange students freaked out XD Some other time they hanged out in a bar and later on found out it was a lesbian bar. So I guess China isn't bad.
When it comes to Japan - I believe that people don't really understand the concept that well. Probably you would be fine as long as you don't shout out "I'm gay!". But I'm not sure, would have to check with my Japanese friends... I come from Poland. Since it's quite a catholic and conservative country - most people are quite homophobic, unfortunately. There have been numerous cases of beating someone up just for his sexual orientation. I find that sick and terrifying. It may be not as bad in big cities, but in the countryside and small communities - I'm pretty sure one would be a total outcast once admitting to his homosexuality. Hope that helped a bit. Edited by Aquedita on 20 April 2009 at 6:09pm 4 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Recht Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5803 days ago 241 posts - 270 votes Speaks: English*, GermanB1 | Message 5 of 56 20 April 2009 at 6:33pm | IP Logged | ||
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There's a pretty easy solution: don't do things that will break laws and get you in
trouble. Unless you're the type that feels the need to broadcast your sexual preferences to the entire world, you should be fine. Behaving in a manner many people find offensive (myself included) is not a good idea in this case. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Akipenda Lugha Diglot Groupie Canada Joined 5740 days ago 78 posts - 82 votes Speaks: English*, French Studies: Swahili, Sign Language, Spanish | Message 6 of 56 20 April 2009 at 7:05pm | IP Logged | ||
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I'm happy to be going to a language school in Mexico which embraces and celebrates sexual diversity: http://www.cetlalic.org.mx
They even have special topic language courses on LGBT culture and experiences offered a couple times a year. Don't know what the general atmosphere in Mexico is though. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Sennin Senior Member Bulgaria Joined 6036 days ago 1457 posts - 1759 votes 5 sounds | Message 7 of 56 20 April 2009 at 7:23pm | IP Logged | ||
Form what I've read, Japan used to be quite liberal (with respect to sexuality) in pre-industrial times. Homosexuality was accepted and even encouraged amongst Buddhist monks. I don't know how it was handled amongst common folk but I suspect the general principle was to preserve "face" and then do whatever you will, privately. As far as I know it was not persecuted or punished in any way and at any time in history. In latter days the western notion of what is "right" and "decent" diffused into the country and was adopted very quickly because the Japanese people wanted to appear "civilized". As if they were not civilized before... It simply meant they want to be more western-like. Homophobia was introduced along with other western niceties, such as Christian values and venereal disease (to mention a few; luckily Christianity didn't spread much). The post World Ward II ties with America also helped to foster a more westerly view of the issues of sexuality. Nowadays Japan is quite infamous for it sexual extravagances. Compared to what I've seen and read, homosexuality appears quite a decent thing, even by western standards. However, you probably still have to keep it to yourself and your close acquaintances. I find this to be the natural (and perfect) state of affairs. Edited by Sennin on 20 April 2009 at 7:27pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| chipile Diglot Newbie United Kingdom Joined 6584 days ago 21 posts - 24 votes Speaks: English*, Swedish Studies: French | Message 8 of 56 20 April 2009 at 7:27pm | IP Logged | ||
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Hi Craig24,
I spent a year living in a small fishing village in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan a few years back. I am not one to advertise my sexuality in general and the issue never arose the entire time I was there. In my experience, the majority of Japanese people I discussed homosexuality with seemed to be under the impression that it was only something that existed in the West. My personal favourite was that it was only a stage that people grow out of; and a Japanese man would still be expected to get married. Bearing in mind, that I was living in the (allegedly) most conservative part of Japan. Like anywhere, it is more accepted in the bigger cities, but even in Sendai (nearest large city) a penetrable gay scene seemed to be lacking. At least to what I have experienced in my own and other European countries. I don't mean any of this as a disparagement to Japan, but just to illustrate that homosexuality is generally viewed in a totally different light. My only other long-term experiences abroad - in Sweden - was totally different. I was in and around Stockholm, however and my friends from Norrland assured me that it is generally not as acceptable up north. Although homosexuality is gaining more acceptance in Scotland (can't speak for the UK as a whole), it is perhaps not as liberal as a lot of other countries in Europe. I have never experienced any issues apart from name-calling, but I wouldn't exactly walk hand-in-hand down Buchanan Street with my boyfriend on a Saturday afternoon. Then again, that all depends on what type of person you are and I don't think I would do that with my girlfriend either. A friend of mine is living in Dubai at the moment and homosexuals keep everything on the down low. As long as you are discreet, you shouldn't have any issues. Hope this helps a little. 2 persons have voted this message useful |
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