UNIT#5: Nationality and transnational processes Flashcards
(24 cards)
Class 15- main point
historical factors- colonialism+ western culture and religious norms= criminalization and soical stigmatization of LGBTQ in africa and middle east
- this has lasting impacts on the lived experiences of individuals including displacement and persecution
- being gay can lead to death, sexual assault, job loss, and the inability to live openly
- discrimination is not punished
- These experiences shape intense feelings of shame, fear, and guilt among LGBTQ+ individuals, demonstrating the profound and lasting impact of these historical and ongoing social and legal structures.
Class 15 example
christian missions in africa= anti- LGBT rhetoric, low levels of acceptance
- formal criminalization of same-sex sexual acts
- middle east- homosexaulity= western onslaught, fuel existing prejudices ad divert attention form issues like corruption
class 16 - main point
complex and often ethically fraught nature of international surrogacy, particularly commercial surrogacy, which involves varying legal frameworks, potential for exploitation, and significant ethical considerations
class 16- example
surrogacy in mexico and nepal
- commercialization and exploitation- renting wombs and the agencies benefit, moving desperate women across boarders
- legal ambiguites and loopholes- shifting legal landscape–> people seeking where less regulated - stop certifying same-sex surrogate babies.
- vulnerability and risk- undergoing IVF without knowing consequences, HIV positive sperm, nepal banning surrogates, leaving some women in limbo
- ethical dilemmas- womens weakness for your gain
- reproductive tourism and its consequcnes- babies left in limbo when legal or logistical problems arise
Bhatt, Amy. 2018. “India’s Sodomy Ban, Now Ruled Illegal, Was a British Colonial Legacy.”- main point
British colonial rule criminalized same-sex relations in India through section 377
- law was inherited by post-colonial states and influences anti-LGBTQ policies
- decriminalization efforts reveal the lingering effects of colonial governance
Bhatt, Amy. 2018. “India’s Sodomy Ban, Now Ruled Illegal, Was a British Colonial Legacy.”- example
Section 377, introduced in 1861 by the British, criminalized “carnal intercourse against the order of nature.” Even after India’s independence, the law remained in place until its decriminalization in 2018. The case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India led to its repeal, illustrating how colonial legal frameworks persist long after colonization formally ends.
Elnaiem, Mohammed. 2021. “The ‘Deviant’ African Genders That Colonialism Condemned.”- main point
African societies historically recognized diverse gender identities, but European colonialism imposed gender norms and criminalized LGBTQ identities
Elnaiem, Mohammed. 2021. “The ‘Deviant’ African Genders That Colonialism Condemned.”- example
Among the Igbo people in Nigeria, “female husbands” (biological women who took on male social roles and married women) were historically accepted. However, British colonial rule erased such practices, enforcing rigid gender binaries. Today, anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Nigeria can be traced back to these colonial-era restrictions.
Patil, Vrushali. 2018. “The Heterosexual Matrix as Imperial Effect.” - main point
the western imposed heterosexual matrix which frames heterosexual as the natural and universal form, reinforces colonial power structures
- the binary gender system was used to regulate sexuality and control colonized subjects
- these structures continue to marginalize non-western gender and sexual identities
Patil, Vrushali. 2018. “The Heterosexual Matrix as Imperial Effect.” - example
In colonial India, British administrators discouraged traditional hijra communities (third-gender people) by criminalizing their existence under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871. Even after independence, hijras remained stigmatized, showing how colonial ideas of gender and sexuality persist
The Washington Post. 2023. “It’s not just Uganda. Much of Africa is marching backward on
LGBT rights.” - main point
Contemporary anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Africa reflect a return to colonial-era legal frameworks, with nationalist and religious movements reinforcing these restrictions.
- there is a resistance to western intervention on LGBTQ rights
The Washington Post. 2023. “It’s not just Uganda. Much of Africa is marching backward on
LGBT rights.” - example
In Uganda, the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act introduced severe penalties for same-sex relationships. The rhetoric supporting the law mirrors colonial moral arguments against “unnatural acts,” demonstrating the endurance of colonial-era thinking.
“our husband, our king” -main point
This episode explores polygamy and power dynamics in African societies, revealing how traditional gender roles intersect with modern legal and social structures.
“our husband, our king” -example
The episode examines the case of a Kenyan woman in a polygamous marriage who struggles with legal recognition and inheritance rights. Her experience illustrates how colonial-era legal systems often fail to accommodate indigenous marital traditions, creating tensions between modern law and cultural practices.
criminalization and colonialization- main point
Colonial legal systems imposed strict regulations on sexuality and gender, criminalizing indigenous practices and reinforcing Western norms.
criminalization and colonialization- example
The episode discusses how British colonial laws against sodomy were inherited by many African nations, leading to the continued persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals. Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, for instance, reflects colonial-era legal frameworks rather than pre-colonial African gender and sexual diversity.
Fenton-Glynn, Claire. 2019. “Surrogacy: Why the World Needs Rules for ‘selling’ Babies.”- main point
the lack of international regulations on surrogacy leads to exploitation, especially in lower-income countries
- surrogacy laws vary globally, leading to ethical concerns about exploitation
- the lack of international regulations creates disparities in reproductive labor
Fenton-Glynn, Claire. 2019. “Surrogacy: Why the World Needs Rules for ‘selling’ Babies.”- example
women being underpaid and coerced into surrogacy agreements- leads to the banning of commercial surrogacy in india 2015
Hovav, April. 2019. “Producing Moral Palatability in the Mexican Surrogacy Market.”- main point
agencies frame surrogacy as altruistic to make it socially acceptable, despite economic exploitation
- Mexican surrogates face racial and class based discrimination
- economic necessity often drives women into surrogacy, exposing them to potential exploitation
Hovav, April. 2019. “Producing Moral Palatability in the Mexican Surrogacy Market.”- example
Mexican women in surrogacy programs often earn only a fraction of what agencies charge clients, illustrating how global economic inequalities shape reproductive labor
Gui, Tianhan. 2022. “Coping With Parental Pressure to Get Married: Perspectives From Chinese
‘Leftover Women.’”- main point
globalization is changing traditional family structures and gender expectations
- leftover face social stigma for delaying marriage
- globalization has influences changing attitudes toward marriage and independence
- parental expectation clash with increasing individualism among younger generations
Gui, Tianhan. 2022. “Coping With Parental Pressure to Get Married: Perspectives From Chinese
‘Leftover Women.’”- example
many young Chinese women, labeled as “left-over women” challenge arranges marriages by prioritizing careers over early marriage
Liu, Jiangrui, and Hui Yang. 2024. “Divergence in Chinese Sexual Attitudes: An Age–Period–
Cohort Analysis.”- main point
Attitudes toward sexuality in China are shaped by generational differences, with younger cohorts embracing more liberal sexual norms while older generations maintain traditional values. These shifts are influenced by China’s economic reforms, globalization, and evolving cultural narratives.
Liu, Jiangrui, and Hui Yang. 2024. “Divergence in Chinese Sexual Attitudes: An Age–Period–
Cohort Analysis.”- example
The study highlights how individuals born after China’s economic opening in the 1980s are significantly more accepting of premarital sex, same-sex relationships, and casual dating compared to older generations. In contrast, those who grew up during the Maoist era (1949-1976) were socialized in a context that emphasized collectivism, state-controlled morality, and strict sexual norms. The generational divide underscores how political and economic transitions shape personal values over time.
