Night in Tunisia

An Odd Culture of Touch

Well, to anybody who can read my mood at the moment, you will know that I'm a little wonky at the moment, so apologies in advance for all that will follow. How beautifully canadian of me.
So, here we are then, a blog-post about practices which involve the segregation of men and women, and further the nature of touch in this world as seen through the lens of a westerner, and a canadian to boot.

It all starts, or so I'm told with an old arabic tribal culture where women were widely held as property and markedly inferior to men, and where intoxication, sexuality and brute strength were the lawmakers. Into this mess came a man who was very charismatic, and who had notions of universal rights and wrongs and who little upon little started to affect huge changes on the culture. He united the tribes,he settled old slights, he professed the importance of education and he managed to transfer considerable power to women. The Coles' notes version, to be sure and as wrong and lacking subtlety as a story of Moby Dick that summerized it as a guy who chased a whale and drowned.

Anyhow, born out of this culture, women and men were separated - this was as much to protect the women from the old notion of women as possession as it was a statement of difference. More so. But it has held, thus, for hundreds of years. And now, the world generally looks on the Arab world as one of intolerance towards women, and as one of backwards cultural practice... An interesting switch.

But this isn't about doctrine or history, this is about the culture of touch and its gendered relationship in Tunisia.

Here men and women are expected to remain separate while in public. Though the new generation gladly holds their loved one's hand or sneaks a hand 'round the crook of an elbow, it is widely frowned upon and can result in harsh arabic words and hard scows from within the numerous cafes.

But such a deficit of touch will find an outlet in any culture, as humans are touch sensitive and social by nature. So while it might not be to strange to see women walking the streets of Canada arm in arm, here it is standard. Or men, for that matter. A good friend may have his arm over the shoulders of his bud, or be hand in hand, or have his hand looped into the crook of his friend's arm.

To be separate is only for couples. To be together, physically, is for friends. It's a little odd, and certainly a little uncomfortable. Uncomfortable since I like to be close to Tiara, and also, because I miss the touch and we don't know anyone yet enough that we can wander about with that level of comfort.

And then there's the greeting-kiss. Here it may be man to woman, though could as easily be woman to woman or man to man - as indeed is more frequent given the work environments (Women and men typically work in different fields.).

Welcome to the world where "as innocent as two men kissing," is not a misnomer.

posted by Loren @ 4:50 p.m.