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Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? darius_sedai Send a noteboard - 09/01/2016 11:33:54 PM

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View original postHomophobia, and to a degree racism, is rooted in religion, especially in religions like Christianity and Islam. These don't exist in Randland and no one ever said 'guys can't be together' in some tome from the AOL, so homophobia never started.

I suppose I'll have to accept that this is the reason, but I don't think it's that simple. Marriage in the series is definitely an institutional arrangement with the aim of passing on inheritance in the families, just more matriarchal than it would've been in our world historically. With that in mind, I would assume that same-sex relationships would be frowned on. And in the same way, the religious ban surely originates from biology (among other things, I'm sure) and not some peculiar whim of God.
View original postDiscrimination always has a chronological but usually senseless origin. Rand has encountered 'racism' for looking like an Aielman because of his red hair. That came from the war with the Aiel as well as the general 'barbarism' witnessed by people when they met the Aiel.

As it is, the Tinkers are the most consistently discriminated group. But if something as boring as red hair can evoke feelings of otherness and prejudice, I would imagine that a different skin colour would do that, too. Maybe RJ could have thrown in a nasty comment from some Tairen merchant who's angry at the Sea Folk for some bargain. Not that I mind the lack of racism.

I think there are many moments of macro-racism (Illianes and Tariens despise one another as do Taraboners and Domani). Cairheinin and Andorans are distrustful ... In fact the only cross national respect we really see is from the Bordelanders, but that probably has to do with the high degree of cultural similarity amongst them, coupled with a common enemy with the blight.

Homosexuality just seems totally unremarkable in the series. Pillow friends and such are taken as a simple matter of course as is lesbianism. Gay males are much more rare, but Algarin clearly inhererted and wasn't considered any less for being gay. Jordan has some peculiar ideas about how being gay works, but he clearly didn't make it any kind of social stigma

Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
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What unsolved mysteries do you think other posters can help you with? Sidious - 22/12/2015 12:10:32 PM 2987 Views
Moridin Zalvera - 22/12/2015 05:25:42 PM 1640 Views
I would agree on that. Cannoli - 23/12/2015 11:19:44 AM 1632 Views
Alviarin seems the most likely culprit for Sarha darius_sedai - 23/12/2015 06:07:16 PM 1707 Views
She was also the one who saw Sahra talking to Min *NM* Cannoli - 23/12/2015 10:42:31 PM 904 Views
Why this Third Age Duke - 31/12/2015 07:02:38 AM 1714 Views
Some small things kHz1000 - 03/01/2016 07:43:02 PM 1722 Views
Re: Some small things darius_sedai - 03/01/2016 08:41:09 PM 1748 Views
Re: Some small things kHz1000 - 03/01/2016 08:57:15 PM 1652 Views
Re: Some small things darius_sedai - 03/01/2016 09:07:22 PM 1841 Views
Re: Some small things kHz1000 - 03/01/2016 09:21:56 PM 1576 Views
Re: Some small things darius_sedai - 03/01/2016 09:37:23 PM 1604 Views
Is there confirmation of who sent the 100,000 trollocs? *NM* Sidious - 03/01/2016 08:03:24 PM 985 Views
Re: Is there confirmation of who sent the 100,000 trollocs? EDIT darius_sedai - 03/01/2016 08:44:04 PM 1608 Views
Re: Is there confirmation of who sent the 100,000 trollocs? EDIT Sidious - 04/01/2016 11:10:54 AM 1653 Views
true darius_sedai - 05/01/2016 04:44:26 PM 1432 Views
Re: true Sidious - 09/01/2016 10:15:07 PM 1728 Views
Could she have sent the Trollocs without Moridin knowing though? darius_sedai - 09/01/2016 10:49:44 PM 1527 Views
I think it was Demandred. Verin gave the hint in KOD actually. Mik - 04/03/2016 09:59:36 PM 2064 Views
I wonder how crazy Rand was? kHz1000 - 03/01/2016 11:51:42 PM 1589 Views
I'm going with pretty damn crazy darius_sedai - 05/01/2016 04:47:19 PM 1656 Views
Re: I wonder how crazy Rand was? Duke - 17/01/2016 07:47:11 AM 1383 Views
Something about pillow friends kHz1000 - 09/01/2016 07:53:48 PM 1530 Views
Re: Something about pillow friends Sidious - 09/01/2016 10:16:36 PM 1821 Views
Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? kHz1000 - 09/01/2016 08:07:06 PM 1509 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? Sidious - 09/01/2016 10:21:16 PM 1788 Views
Agreed darius_sedai - 09/01/2016 11:07:13 PM 1245 Views
Re: Agreed kHz1000 - 09/01/2016 11:24:50 PM 1273 Views
Exactly darius_sedai - 09/01/2016 11:42:14 PM 1275 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? kHz1000 - 09/01/2016 11:13:22 PM 1161 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? darius_sedai - 09/01/2016 11:33:54 PM 1468 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? kHz1000 - 10/01/2016 12:12:01 AM 1414 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? darius_sedai - 10/01/2016 09:23:46 PM 1269 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? kHz1000 - 10/01/2016 10:25:12 PM 1294 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? darius_sedai - 11/01/2016 06:11:37 PM 1386 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? Sidious - 11/01/2016 06:04:00 AM 1766 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? Sidious - 10/01/2016 02:25:21 PM 2096 Views
What Logain quote are you referencing? *NM* darius_sedai - 11/01/2016 06:07:57 PM 753 Views
Logain stated that Rand is stronger than him because he makes larger Gateways *NM* kHz1000 - 11/01/2016 06:24:34 PM 722 Views
Oh I thought he was referencing a homophobic comment! *NM* darius_sedai - 11/01/2016 06:43:48 PM 785 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? DomA - 16/01/2016 02:44:01 AM 1766 Views
That is a big logical leap, and dodges rather than answering the question Joel - 08/02/2016 11:52:11 AM 1455 Views
Re: That is a big logical leap, and dodges rather than answering the question darius_sedai - 13/02/2016 03:52:18 AM 1384 Views
Jordans world lacks a God or religions? Joel - 13/02/2016 04:57:10 PM 1471 Views
Re: Jordans world lacks a God or religions? Sidious - 14/02/2016 09:33:18 AM 1835 Views
Just because Randland is Deist does not make it deity-free. Joel - 14/02/2016 01:59:58 PM 1530 Views
It is better to say there is no organized religion fionwe1987 - 14/02/2016 10:12:35 PM 1329 Views
That sounds about right Joel - 15/02/2016 11:21:42 AM 1321 Views
Perhaps, but perhaps not darius_sedai - 16/02/2016 01:26:46 AM 1292 Views
A non-deity Creator is a distinction without a difference Joel - 16/02/2016 03:52:24 AM 1539 Views
I don't think I'm making my point clear darius_sedai - 17/02/2016 02:36:51 AM 1205 Views
Sorry Darius, but there's a lot of mistakes there... fionwe1987 - 20/02/2016 06:18:16 AM 1318 Views
No. I'm questioning what constitues being a Diety. Existence and the act of creation do not IMO darius_sedai - 21/02/2016 10:05:12 PM 1211 Views
Re: No. I'm questioning what constitues being a Diety. Existence and the act of creation do not IMO Dunstan - 07/03/2016 05:17:04 AM 1282 Views
Re: That is a big logical leap, and dodges rather than answering the question Sidious - 14/02/2016 09:31:21 AM 1777 Views
Not disputing any of that Joel - 15/02/2016 11:52:45 AM 1313 Views
How did Narg learn the common tongue? Is he just smart? *NM* Narg - 11/01/2016 11:30:49 PM 693 Views
He was one of the smarter Trollocs, yeah kHz1000 - 11/01/2016 11:45:54 PM 1332 Views
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