Teaching Me to Be a Man: Arab Transwomen Accounts of Childhood Abuse Exploitation by Brothers

• In Event: Understandings of Sexual Assault and Persistent Patriarchy

Abstract

Arab transwomen shared childhood memories, from 7 – 16 years old, of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by older brothers. Participants were nine Arab transwomen aged 20-24 years born in Bedouin, Druze, and Palestinian villages who had escaped to Israel. We examined the extent to which (1) participants could account for their brothers’ abuse within the socialization goals of masculinity, sexuality, and family honor, (2) the practice of male/male sexual exploitation within Arab culture that bans sodomy, and (3) parents protecting their children. We conducted in-depth interviews. A thematic content analysis followed. Findings show participants’ attempts to excuse their brothers’ physical and emotional abuse by a violent ecology and culture of power. They minimized their brothers’ violence based on good intentions to correct effeminate behavior and teach them toughness. CSA was justified by their brothers’ intention to teach the sexuality of “Akbar,” great men. However, CSA became inexcusable when violence escalated. Brothers ruled over mothers and sisters, and fathers did nothing to stop the CSA by their hypermasculine sons. Once the rape/orgy was made public, participants were blamed for destroying family honor and reputation, and ostracized. Conclusion: International organizations must protect effeminate not-quite boys from hyper-masculine males in Arab cultures from exploitation.

Authors

• Brenda Geiger, Western Galilee College

• Michael Fischer, Norfolk State University