Afghan Men Struggle With Sexual Identity, Study Finds

Weird sicko stuff

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/28/afghan-men-struggle-sexual-identity-study-finds/?test=latestnews

An unclassified study from a military research unit in southern Afghanistan details how homosexual behavior is unusually common among men in the large ethnic group known as Pashtuns -- though they seem to be in complete denial about it.

As if U.S. troops and diplomats didn't have enough to worry about in trying to understand Afghan culture, a new report suggests an entire region in the country is coping with a sexual identity crisis.

An unclassified study from a military research unit in southern Afghanistan details how homosexual behavior is unusually common among men in the large ethnic group known as Pashtuns -- though they seem to be in complete denial about it.

The study, obtained by Fox News, found that Pashtun men commonly have sex with other men, admire other men physically, have sexual relationships with boys and shun women both socially and sexually -- yet they completely reject the label of "homosexual." The research was conducted as part of a longstanding effort to better understand Afghan culture and improve Western interaction with the local people.

The research unit, which was attached to a Marine battalion in southern Afghanistan, acknowledged that the behavior of some Afghan men has left Western forces "frequently confused."

The report details the bizarre interactions a U.S. Army medic and her colleagues had with Afghan men in the southern province of Kandahar.

In one instance, a group of local male interpreters had contracted gonorrhea anally but refused to believe they could have contracted it sexually -- "because they were not homosexuals."

Apparently, according to the report, Pashtun men interpret the Islamic prohibition on homosexuality to mean they cannot "love" another man -- but that doesn't mean they can't use men for "sexual gratification."

The group of interpreters who had contracted gonorrhea joked in the camp that they actually got the disease by "mixing green and black tea." But since they refused to heed the medics' warnings, many of them re-contracted the disease after receiving treatment.

The U.S. army medic also told members of the research unit that she and her colleagues had to explain to a local man how to get his wife pregnant.

The report said: "When it was explained to him what was necessary, he reacted with disgust and asked, 'How could one feel desire to be with a woman, who God has made unclean, when one could be with a man, who is clean? Surely this must be wrong.'"

The Pashtun populations are concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country. The Human Terrain Team that conducted the research is part of a military effort to learn more about local populations.

The report also detailed a disturbing practice in which older "men of status" keep young boys on hand for sexual relationships. One of the country's favorite sayings, the report said, is "women are for children, boys are for pleasure."

The report concluded that the widespread homosexual behavior stems from several factors, including the "severe segregation" of women in the society and the "prohibitive" cost of marriage.

Though U.S. troops are commonly taught in training for Afghanistan that the "effeminate characteristics" of Pashtun men are "normal" and not an indicator of homosexuality, the report said U.S. forces should not "dismiss" the unique version of homosexuality that is actually practiced in the region "out of desire to avoid western discomfort."

Otherwise, the report said, Westerners could "risk failing to comprehend an essential social force underlying Pashtun culture."

Probably is the explanation for this...

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So if I'm reading this right, the Pashtun culture has so ingrained men against being sexually attracted to women that they've switched to other men, and boys?

They need to ditch the burka.

Laughed myself silly with the jumping jacks.

So if I'm reading this right, the Pashtun culture has so ingrained men against being sexually attracted to women that they've switched to other men, and boys?

Impossible,experts here say ya gotta be born that way

That type of thing has been prevalent in many societies including supposedly enlightened western ones.

Impossible,experts here say ya gotta be born that way

That type of thing has been prevalent in many societies including supposedly enlightened western ones.

I know, right? But see, those experts feel a need to remove the responsibility that goes along with making the choice to be homosexual by saying that it's somehow pre-programmed as part of a political agenda. I don't have a problem with such a choice, but I do believe it's a choice. :2cents:

When a Pashtun wants to make love to a woman, his first choice is a Tajik man

We are constantly told how ignorant the population is and this is nothing but an example.

Makes you wonder how man ever made it out of the stone age. For as intelligent man is, we have often over think our basic natural instinct. See Women's Lib for an example.

<---------------- DUCKS

seems like that's par for the course as far as hyper-masculine society's go

see: Sparta

It extends well beyond the hyper-masculine ones,though they are more famous .

Kinda like the Afghans it is generally not acknowledged.

How in the hell can you not know how to do a jumping jack?!

One must learn to be more manly.

How in the hell can you not know how to do a jumping jack?!

Do you know how to make a bomb?

Just jokes... seriously...

I know, right? But see, those experts feel a need to remove the responsibility that goes along with making the choice to be homosexual by saying that it's somehow pre-programmed as part of a political agenda. I don't have a problem with such a choice, but I do believe it's a choice. :2cents:

I disagree completely. I just don't see how anyone would choose that path given the obstacles and isolation it often presents.

But that's for another thread.

I know, right? But see, those experts feel a need to remove the responsibility that goes along with making the choice to be homosexual by saying that it's somehow pre-programmed as part of a political agenda. I don't have a problem with such a choice, but I do believe it's a choice. :2cents:

I assume you woke up this morning and made a choice to be straight.

Probably is the explanation for this...

We are constantly told how ignorant the population is and this is nothing but an example.

Makes you wonder how man ever made it out of the stone age. For as intelligent man is, we have often over think our basic natural instinct. See Women's Lib for an example.

I can't think of how many times I have told people how ignorant these people are. The British never bothered to build schools in the tribal areas and its essentially been a closed off culture for thousands of years

This doesn't surprise me at all that they are totally confused

Not a single statistic is quoted, nor was a single person quoted. If it really is an unclassified report then they should have had no issues getting a name on record. Furthermore, it's ****ing Fox News, they stir more **** then the combined workforce of your local sewage plant.

This article is so bad it can't even be considered journalism. It's written to make the Afghan's seem sub-human.

You must ask yourself - do you believe everything you see on television? 99% of people would say "No, I don't" well then you can't believe everything you read either. If you're going to make an opinion, make an informed one and actually try and research it a bit. No study is quoted. No one writes reports of this nature, its not even the slightest bit academic.

This article from beginning to finish is laced with bigotry.

seems like that's par for the course as far as hyper-masculine society's go

see: Sparta

See: Athens

Where they actually had sex with children.

You know, that good ol place where democracy was invented.

Not a single statistic is quoted, nor was a single person quoted. If it really is an unclassified report then they should have had no issues getting a name on record. Furthermore, it's ****ing Fox News, they stir more **** then the combined workforce of your local sewage plant.

This article is so bad it can't even be considered journalism. It's written to make the Afghan's seem sub-human.

You must ask yourself - do you believe everything you see on television? 99% of people would say "No, I don't" well then you can't believe everything you read either. If you're going to make an opinion, make an informed one and actually try and research it a bit. No study is quoted. No one writes reports of this nature, its not even the slightest bit academic.

This article from beginning to finish is laced with bigotry.

If anything, and it's still a stretch, the title should say "Afghan Men do not adhere to Western definitions of sexuality".

I can't think of how many times I have told people how ignorant these people are. The British never bothered to build schools in the tribal areas and its essentially been a closed off culture for thousands of years

This doesn't surprise me at all that they are totally confused

Different, perhaps, but a culture lacking what the "west" defines as "civilization" isn't any less developed or complex as our own. You can't argue that because they might not have the technological advances that we enjoy here in the United States, that they're actually a backwards culture.

The British never bothered to build schools there because that region has HISTORICALLY been nearly impossible to lock down and exert control over. Go figure we're having such an issue with it. Technological advances do give you an advantage, but those "backwards mountain people" as you suggest have been fighting over those lands for millenia.

Which is exactly our problem when we invaded. We thought for all of our technological advances we'd be able to easily brush aside the tribes that really actually control Afghanistan, but the apparent fact is that for all their technological disadvantages - being motivated to fight for your land (however rightly or wrongly [note: foreign insurgents]), having explicit understanding of fighting in that terrain gives you an immense advantage.

I assume you woke up this morning and made a choice to be straight.

Doesn't everyone toss a coin?

See: Athens

Where they actually had sex with children.

You know, that good ol place where democracy was invented.

homosexuality was frowned upon in Athens, especially with boys.

In Sparta, man on boy love was just part of their education system.

Sparta sucks, Athens roxorz

Sparta sucks, Athens roxorz

Well, except for that little "Peloponnesian War" that didn't turn out so well for Athens...

Now, if they don't have sex with women, how do they continue to exist? Or do they only have sex with their women once or twice a year and pray to Allah that they get pregnant this time so they don't have to do it again?