Gender and Sexuality in Pre-Colonial Society Around the World
Why is sex such a taboo subject throughout the world? Has it always been that way? The answer is no. But how did we end up with this idea? Colonization. Colonialism has shaped and rewritten the way we view and interpret sex and sexuality. This agenda has severely neglected the fluidity and indigenous culture’s meaning of gender, sex, and sexuality. Many pre-colonial societies saw sex without guilt, shame, or sin. Then came in the concept of gender binarism and heteronormativity from the European colonizers that was enforced in indigenous society and became our present day norm. Yet, what were the outlooks on gender and sexuality from pre-colonial culture and society?
Female Sexual Pleasure in Pre-Colonial Central Africa:
Sexuality in pre-colonial Africa was highly valued and overlapped with spirituality, however, slavery and colonization have heavily impacted and changed this outlook. The colonizers redefined the concept of African sexuality to it being religiously motivated, imposed toxic shame, and favored male dominance in sexual relationships. Kunyaza/Kachabali is a sexual practice that focuses on only triggering female ejaculation, not just one but as many orgasms in women during sexual encounters. This technique originated in Rwanda but was also practiced in Kenya and Uganda. Because of European colonization, this particular sexual practice was shamed and shunned, and only began to emphasize male pleasure matters which became the standard in the realm of current sexuality discourse.
Orgasms & Nudity in Pre-Contact Hawai‘i:
Traditional, precontact, Hawai‘i’s perspective on sex was being positive, pleasurable, and open. Sexual needs and desires were seen as basic as the need for food. The word for orgasms, le‘a, means fun and joy, thus showing how comfortable their sex views are. Nudity was viewed as non-sexual in traditional Hawai‘i. As the climate is warm, typical clothing consists of malo (loincloth) for adult males and a leaf or tapa (bark) skirt for adult females. The female breasts were not covered. Most children went uncovered. Nudity among adults had nonsexual significance, such as in ceremonial conditions it was a sign of respect, submission, or forgiveness. Yet, when the colonizers arrived, they viewed this behavior with disgust and saw nudity as barbaric and sexual perversion. Eventually, the idea began to start sexually exploiting and exotifying Hawaiian women.
Cross-Dressing and Homosexual Behavior in Pre-Colonial Vietnam:
Prior to foreign invasions, Vietnam was once a matriarchal society and viewed sexuality as wholesome and in harmony with nature. In the 14th to 16th century, there was evidence of transgender people, and homosexual relationships that were seen throughout prehistoric artifacts and recorded documents. Additionally, cross-dressing or taking on the role of the opposite sex was very common in Vietnamese culture in the 14th century, and they were considered “witch doctors” who had the power to communicate with spiritual forces. Local Vietnamese festivals encouraged sexual exploration and activity, including homosexuality in youth. It was not until the arrival of Buddhism and Confucianism from China that sexual relations became taboo and eventually made Vietnam into a patriarchal society. During the French colonial period in the late 19th century, French colonialists mentioned it was a sin for those who cross-dressed, engaged in homosexual practice, and displayed transgender expression and that those who do not conform to being heterosexual or gender binary were evil and unholy.
Gender and Sexuality in Pre-Colonial India
From ancient scriptures to the Vedas, early Indian society’s view on sex is way ahead of our current time. Kama Sutra is an ancient Indian text on sexuality that has revolutionized the discourse of human sexuality and is widely known in today’s world. Indian queerness can be traced from ancient epics, poetry, art, and architecture. Hijra, also known as the third gender, has existed and played important roles for over 2000 years. From religious Hindu ceremonies to weddings, Hijra performs dances, songs, and blessings. To many Hindus, Hijra have been treated with both respect and fear and much of this respect did not survive during the encounter of British colonizers. Based on the Christian belief about gender, the British criminalized Hijra in 1871 and colonial authorities were to arrest them on sight. Fortunately, the law was repealed shortly after independence, yet today most Hijra are excluded from employment and education outside their ritual roles leading to poverty. They are victims of violence, harassed by the police, and refused treatment at hospitals.
If our understanding of sex has changed greatly over the past centuries, then we should be able to change those ideas in the present day. Sex was once an open, and comfortable topic in different parts of the world until the colonizers came. For us to make this a sex-positive world, we must decolonize our understanding of what gender and sex are and unlearn the shame.
Citations:
Diamond, Milton. “Sexual Behavior in Pre Contact Hawai‘i: A Sexological Ethnography.” Pacific Center for Sex and Society - Sexual Behavior in Pre-Contact Hawai’i, Revista Española del Pacifico. 2004. 16: 37-58, www.hawaii.edu/PCSS/biblio/articles/2000to2004/2004-sexual-behavior-in-pre-contact-hawaii.html. Accessed 4 Nov. 2023.
Kano, Swiry Nyar. “Sexual Pleasure in Precolonial Africa.” IPPF, 23 Jan. 2023, www.ippf.org/featured-perspective/sexual-pleasure-precolonial-africa.
“The Third Gender and Hijras.” Religion and Public Life at Harvard Divinity School, rpl.hds.harvard.edu/religion-context/case-studies/gender/third-gender-and-hijras. Accessed 4 Nov. 2023.
UNDP, USAID (2014). Being LGBT in Asia: VietNam Country Report. Bangkok.
