I found this all interesting as I livein one of those 'sexually repressive' middle east countries. Women here are marrying later than before and are better educated. The birth rate IS falling. The male/female thing that was mentioned before-women as breeders, men as fighters, is nothing short of ridiculous, however. Whatever you all think culturally of how things operate here in practical ways, women are revered in Islamic society IMO. Not always does this reflect as it SHOULD, however, but that is based on backwards culture (think America, 1955). The mother is the most respected person on EARTH, after God. And as to sexual repression etc-well, virgins are a nice idea, but men in this country, which is about 5 men to ever woman, are happy to just have a WIFE-and yes, women hold out here. And they are given a gift at marriage-this does not depend on their virginity, btw, it depends on the man's ability and finances (Muhammed(pbuh) was said to have paid the same mahr for all of his wives and many of them were widowed/divorced, so go figure).
I will say that sex is NOT treated as a 'contact sport' here. Men and women in Islam generally do not even so much as touch hands before they are married. I will also say that this does not make for a bad marital relationship (ok, personal note there). Most so called Islamic countries do not hold that tight to the teachings, so I don't know how that translates elsewhere-the Muslim nations in the former USSR are basically only Muslim in name only. When people from thosecountries come here, they basically need to learn how to even pray, reading the Quran is not something they ever have done. They are as Muslim as many nominal Christians are Christian. Which is to say, they have a word to check off when their religion is asked. They might know when Ramadan is (probably not).
Girl babies are valued as much as boy babies. I have not seen anyone regret their girl, and there is a specific rule in the Quran that speaks about not killing girl babies, as the culture of Arabia (and still in many places) held that girls were without value. Totally against the teachings of Islam to do so-selectively breeding for boys is not something that could be done here as it is in the India or China(not sure if China allows that anymore-they have a girl shortage).
Anyway, there is still cultural issues here that I take great issue with, but I do not think that sexual repression (as to breeding practices) is something that hurts these women-and their children. Folks, ultimately, the sexual practices that encourage 'promiscuity' do hurt the next generations in ways that are innumerable and documented.
