Bio: Willem Floor

I have studied development economics, non-western sociology as well as Persian, Arabic and Islamology from 1963-67 at the University of Utrecht. In 1971 I received my doctoral degree from the University of Leyden in 1971. From 1983-2002 I have been employed by the World Bank as an energy specialist. At the moment I am an independent scholar. My most recent books include Agriculture in Qajar Iran (Washington DC: Mage, 2003), Traditional Crafts and Modern Industry in Qajar Iran (Costa Mesa: Mazda, 2003); Public Health in Qajar Iran (Washington DC: Mage, 2004) and my forthcoming books include The History of Theater in Iran (Washington DC:Mage, 2005), Wall Paintings and other figurative art in Qajar Iran (Costa Mesa: Mazda, 2005) and The Persian Gulf in the Safavid Period (Washington DC: Mage, 2005).

Abstract

Venereal Disease in Iran: A Public Affair, 1855-2005

In this paper I show that [a] venereal diseases were one of the major endemic diseases of Iran until recent times; [b] carriers of this class of disease in 19th century and early 20th century Iran were not socially stigmatized as in Europe; [c] hence information what to do about the disease was discussed among people in social gatherings as well as publicly in print that was available to the educated class; [d] openness about this disease changed once it became generally known that VD was caused by sexual encounters that generally were adulterous in nature and hence immoral, according to Islam, [e] sexual behavior did not change significantly, however, in that sexual intercourse outside marriage remained significant, for prostitution remained a major dimension of social and sexual life. However, after the 1960s, the prevalence of VD was reduced due to the access to modern curative remedies, while condoms started to be used on a limited scale; [f] government and societal response to VD were based in male sexuality and assumptions about male sexual behavior and [g] government and societal reaction with regards to HIV/AIDS has not yet learnt from the past and sexual behavior has not adjusted to reflect the high risk involved in unsafe sexual intercourse.