"If you really want to know people, you start by looking inside their bedroom". Today, I talk to journalist and author, Shereen El Feki on what goes behind closed doors in the Arab world. We are diving into sensitive topics, such as the sexual evolution in the region, sex in Islam, and the experiences of coming out as queer vs. staying in the closet.
Join us for an eye-opening discussion that sheds light on what's really happening in the region.
Shereen El Feki is an Egyptian-British journalist and author, most notable for her book Sex and the Citadel: Intimate Life in a Changing Arab World. Shereen started her career in medical science, with a PhD in immunology from Trinity College, Cambridge, before going on to become a healthcare correspondent with The Economist and a presenter with Al Jazeera English. She is the former vice-chair of the UN’s Global Commission on HIV and the Law, as well as a TED global fellow.Note: This episode is not suitable for minors. Viewers discretion is advised.
In this episode, we talk about the following:
(1:47) Why is sex a powerful lens to see the world? (9:36) HIV in the Middle East and North Africa
(19:36) What does sex in the Arab World look like?(23:20) Honour Killings & Patriarchy
(31:33) a sexual revolution? No. It's sexual evolution. (33:36) LGBQT+ in the Arab World
(41:04) is there harm to living a life of secrecy and privacy?
(43:39) The role of NGOs in the region
(46:05 ) Sex in Islam?
(49:00) How did the Arab world become so conservative?