The Bacha Bazi Imperfect Man Model

Bacha Bazi In the pre-modern Middle East and Europe, the imperfect-man model was generally approved or accepted (Frost 4). It depicted females as lesser creatures, and men who were involved in “passive or receptive” same-sex relations were presumed to have an “imperfect form of the male body” (Frost 4). However, men who indulged themselves in “active” same-sex relations, those who had the “penetrative” role, were not considered “imperfect” or “flawed mentally” (Frost 4). In fact, “active” same-sex dispositions were viewed as “normal behavior” that did not diminish a male’s status in society (Frost 4). With this concept of human sexuality, Bacha Bazi, a form of sexual slavery where young boys are forced to entertain men, came about. The

They created policies that criminalized Bacha Bazi, which led to the development of a “heteronormative model” for public dance performances (Frost 21). Impressively, they were able to form a society where men are not permitted to partake in a “centuries-old style of homosocial relations”, and where females are allowed to dance in public (Frost 21-22). Remarkably, the Soviets also constructed several “positive reforms for education and women’s rights” that date back to the 1980’s when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan during the Cold War (Noman 506). Another group that opposed the practice of Bacha Bazi was the Taliban, a fundamentalist Islamic army. During their rule in 1993, the Taliban attempted to preclude the disturbing practice of Bacha Bazi, because they believed it was “socially unacceptable and a disgrace to Allah” (Erdogdu 4). Their endeavor to do so was successful for some time, but despite these efforts, the practice proved itself to be a persisting

Regrettably, Bacha Bazi has ingrained itself in the sexual and social norms of Afghanistan and consequently, it has brought the rise of child prostitution. The mere existence of this tradition threatens the safety and future of countless boys, and will remain to do so unless change occurs. A possible way that this can be stopped is for other nations to intervene, and assist Afghanistan in implementing more stringent laws that will discontinue Bacha