Behind the Veil of Vice: The Business and Culture of Sex in the Middle East (Paperback)

Description

The Middle East has long been something of a mystery to Westerners, and in particular, the sexual mores of the region continue to fascinate. Arabs are often described as being in a state of Islam-induced sexual anxiety and young Muslims' frustrations are said to be exacerbated by increasing exposure to the licentiousness of the West. Here, Middle East expert John R. Bradley sets out to uncover the truth about sex in countries like Egypt, Syria, Morocco and Yemen. Among many startling revelations, Bradley reports on how "temporary" Islamic marriages allow for illicit sex in the theocracies of Iran and Saudi Arabia; "child brides" that are sold off to older Arab men according to ancient tribal traditions; the hypocrisy that undermines publicized crackdowns on the thriving sex industry in the Persian Gulf; and how, despite widespread denial, homosexuality is still deeply ingrained in the region's social fabric.

Richly detailed and nuanced, Behind the Veil of Vice sheds light on a taboo subject and unravels widely held myths about the region. In the process, Bradley also delivers an important message about our own society's contradictions.

About the Author

Praise For…

“Recommend... for its accessibility, wealth of detailed content, and its potential appeal for scholars working in the fields of sex work and Middle East studies.... Bradley succeeds in his aim to effectively uncover the mysteries surrounding the business and culture of sex in the Middle East. He presents a very nuanced account of the realities of prostitution in various Middle Eastern countries, supplemented statistically and anecdotally. Bradley identifies a range of existent liberal cultural identities and attitudes towards sex in the countries he has visited, accompanied by an underground culture of sex that is often not as shrouded in mystery as western media so commonly depicts.” —LSE Review of Books

“Drawing on extensive research as well as the author's own substantial firsthand knowledge of the region, the book offers an essential corrective to the fantasies and misinformation about Middle Eastern cultures.” —Publishers Weekly

“Essential reading for anyone interested in modern Egypt and the looming dramas of the Arab world.” —United Press International on Inside Egypt

“In this highly readable and thoughtful volume, Bradley provides a devastating critique of Egypt's current dictatorial government.” —Library Journal on Inside Egypt

“Compelling... Inside Egypt depicts a hopelessly dysfunctional country where poverty, torture, and corruption are ubiquitous.” —New Statesman (UK) on Inside Egypt

“John R. Bradley is a writer looking for the truth in Arab countries ruled by dictators. His writing is brave and essential to our understanding of the reality behind the official, artificial image of our societies.” —Alaa Al Aswany, Egyptian author of the international bestselling novels The Yacoubian Building and Chicago, on Inside Egypt

“A highly informed, temperate, and understanding account of a country… that is an enigma.” —The New York Times on Saudi Arabia Exposed

“Brings to life the tensions between rulers and ruled, offering poignant evidence of widespread disillusionment with the Saudi royal family.” —Foreign Affairs on Saudi Arabia Exposed

“A thoughtful, incisive portrait of a fractured nation. . . [a] remarkable volume.” —Newsweek on Saudi Arabia Exposed

“[Bradley] uses a graceful journalist's pen to write with scholarly authority... shows a sensitivity rare for a Westerner, reaching directly to the society's core.” —The Nation on Saudi Arabia Exposed