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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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Is there confirmation of who sent the 100,000 trollocs? *NM* - 03/01/2016 08:03:24 PM 801 Views
Re: Is there confirmation of who sent the 100,000 trollocs? EDIT - 03/01/2016 08:44:04 PM 1314 Views
Re: Is there confirmation of who sent the 100,000 trollocs? EDIT - 04/01/2016 11:10:54 AM 1346 Views
true - 05/01/2016 04:44:26 PM 1122 Views
Re: true - 09/01/2016 10:15:07 PM 1267 Views
Could she have sent the Trollocs without Moridin knowing though? - 09/01/2016 10:49:44 PM 1204 Views
I think it was Demandred. Verin gave the hint in KOD actually. - 04/03/2016 09:59:36 PM 1749 Views
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I'm going with pretty damn crazy - 05/01/2016 04:47:19 PM 1335 Views
Re: I wonder how crazy Rand was? - 17/01/2016 07:47:11 AM 1085 Views
Something about pillow friends - 09/01/2016 07:53:48 PM 1206 Views
Re: Something about pillow friends - 09/01/2016 10:16:36 PM 1363 Views
Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 09/01/2016 08:07:06 PM 1192 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 09/01/2016 10:21:16 PM 1310 Views
Agreed - 09/01/2016 11:07:13 PM 954 Views
Re: Agreed - 09/01/2016 11:24:50 PM 1000 Views
Exactly - 09/01/2016 11:42:14 PM 948 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 09/01/2016 11:13:22 PM 866 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 09/01/2016 11:33:54 PM 1177 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 10/01/2016 12:12:01 AM 1083 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 10/01/2016 09:23:46 PM 947 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 10/01/2016 10:25:12 PM 971 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 11/01/2016 06:11:37 PM 1088 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 11/01/2016 06:04:00 AM 1314 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 10/01/2016 02:25:21 PM 1605 Views
What Logain quote are you referencing? *NM* - 11/01/2016 06:07:57 PM 527 Views
Logain stated that Rand is stronger than him because he makes larger Gateways *NM* - 11/01/2016 06:24:34 PM 543 Views
Oh I thought he was referencing a homophobic comment! *NM* - 11/01/2016 06:43:48 PM 596 Views
Re: Where's the racism and homophobia in WOT? - 16/01/2016 02:44:01 AM 1388 Views
That is a big logical leap, and dodges rather than answering the question - 08/02/2016 11:52:11 AM 1132 Views
Re: That is a big logical leap, and dodges rather than answering the question - 13/02/2016 03:52:18 AM 1060 Views
Jordans world lacks a God or religions? - 13/02/2016 04:57:10 PM 1202 Views
Re: Jordans world lacks a God or religions? - 14/02/2016 09:33:18 AM 1383 Views
Just because Randland is Deist does not make it deity-free. - 14/02/2016 01:59:58 PM 1212 Views
It is better to say there is no organized religion - 14/02/2016 10:12:35 PM 1027 Views
That sounds about right - 15/02/2016 11:21:42 AM 1020 Views
Perhaps, but perhaps not - 16/02/2016 01:26:46 AM 1007 Views
A non-deity Creator is a distinction without a difference - 16/02/2016 03:52:24 AM 1184 Views
I don't think I'm making my point clear - 17/02/2016 02:36:51 AM 878 Views
Re: That is a big logical leap, and dodges rather than answering the question - 14/02/2016 09:31:21 AM 1319 Views
Not disputing any of that - 15/02/2016 11:52:45 AM 995 Views
How did Narg learn the common tongue? Is he just smart? *NM* - 11/01/2016 11:30:49 PM 485 Views
He was one of the smarter Trollocs, yeah - 11/01/2016 11:45:54 PM 996 Views

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