According to the LA Times:
The government of the United Arab Emirates, a confederation of kingdoms torn between the conservative Muslim society and Western influences, is dead serious about "protecting" society against the growing number of women said to dress, behave and speak like men.In fact, the ministry of social affairs a few days ago launched a campaign called "Excuse me, I am a girl," directed against what they described as the "fourth gender," according to media reports. The language is seen as a euphemism for lesbians.
As the global economy faces a grave spiral downwards, with Dubai very much at the center of it, it's shocking that the government has time to devote to making sure that women don't try on some so-called masculine traits on for size (lesbianism, of course, has always been around even if they don't want to admit it). In fact, it reinforces just how threatening gender nonconformity still is.
Thanks to pbaranco for the heads up.
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In fact, the ministry of social affairs a few days ago launched a campaign called "Excuse me, I am a girl," directed against what they described as the "fourth gender," according to media reports. The language is seen as a euphemism for lesbians.
News to me that there was a third gender.....
I'm not sure how Dubai defines "third gender", but Sara, there are intersex and transgender people who do call themselves third gender in the Western world.
The terminology "third gender" and "fourth gender" actually originated in non-Western societies. India is the most frequently cited country that has cultural groups that have long recognized a third gender (Hijra), but several other indigenous groups from the Americas, Africa, and the Pacific also have more than two genders.
That caught my eye, too, but after reading the article, I'm thinking maybe they mean gay men are the third gender, which would leave lesbians as the fourth gender? I don't know, but it seems odd that a society that's cracking down on "masculine" women would have the space for a third gender, such as Hijra in India. But I'm unfamiliar with this part of the Arab world, so I'm not sure.
The Emirate of Dubai Police devote a LOT of energy to repressing the "third gender" [gay men] - so now the "fourth gender" [lesbian] women will be getting the same treatment.
When times are tough it's a safe move to pull out the Boogeyman to keep people occupied.
"Oooh look, something shiny! It's a LESBIAN!"
Wait, there are only 4 genders??
Actually there is no uniform Islam. There are its different branches, currents, on places they are still corrected by local specificity, etc.
I any more do not speak about that that Islam where-nibut to England or the USA well very much differs from Islam in Afghanistan. Though would read one Koran like, only interpret it on a miscellaneous.
Here one London imam, sent to Lebanon for that what well very strongly preached in the mosques in London struggle with incorrect, literally plaintively asked the authorities of England to start up it back. Than that the Lebanese Islam well very much has not liked it.