Normative violence, traditional healing, and harm regarding same-sex relations among women in Mozambique

It is given that African “lesbians” or female same-sex sexualities are affected by silence, repression, and uncertainty. Research on this subject is scarce in Mozambique, and existing literature has focused on sexual and reproductive health rights and does not address the needs and concerns of all people involved in same-sex relationships, in particular, “lesbians” and “bisexual” women. In this chapter, we aim to give voice to those of women, who agreed to speak of their fears of working as activists for the LGBT Association (named Lambda) and how some of them referred to the practices or forms of violence against women defined by the United Nations as being “harmful traditional practices”. Stories of 38 individuals who self-reported as heterosexual, transwomen, and, “lesbian” or “bisexual” women were analysed. Their personal stories of sexual rights violations, discovery, and revelation of sexual orientation during adolescence and adulthood demonstrate experience with traditional healers that use practices to “heal” women in “need” of becoming or forced to become “straight” and engage in early heterosexual marriage. Findings show that the majority of “lesbians” and “bisexual” women reported not having an interest in becoming activists. Thus, female same-sex activism’s challenges are related to fear of revealing sexual orientation publicly and the taboo around these practices that make these women victims of violence such as parental rejection, sexual abuse, and religious or harmful practices used to heal “the disease of the shame”. The views of those participants who agreed to speak about their experiences of sexual rights violation and identity illustrated the different categories of intersection and oppression such as gender and religion, which contributed to both who and what they have become: people living in a “culture of discretion” and who were afraid of becoming sexual minority rights activists at both research sites.

ISBN:9781003246046

Jaar van publicatie:2022

Toegankelijkheid:Closed