Maltese People Discuss 11 Subjects They Still Think Are Taboo
Society in Malta has recently tried to tiptoe into a new, ‘open discussion’ kind of atmosphere. And while there is definitely some visible progress, we still have a lot of work to do when it comes to constructive dialogue on many issues.
A recent post in Facebook group The Salott asked people what subjects they still think are taboo, and here’s how people answered.
1. Tattoos were mentioned a lot
While the art form grows by the day, a lot of older generations still think tattoos are something shameful or beneath them. While not exactly a taboo (it can easily be spoken about in public with little retribution), tattoos are still unnecessarily frowned upon, particularly by employers.
2. And sex shops were a surprising entry
While many don’t think about this line of commercial outlets, it is true that Malta lacks sex shops across the island. And if you were to mention this to people, many would hope it would never open on their street, making it quite the taboo.
3. Mental health was the most common answer
While the stigma surrounding talking about mental health has final been broken, all the emotional songs and statuses in the world still haven’t helped people feel comfortable talking about their personal issues.
So while we’re no longer pretending it doesn’t exist, people’s attitude towards those who admit to having mental health issues is still shockingly appalling.
4. With some specifying that suicide was probably the least talked about issue
And unlike mental health which is at least spoken about, suicide is a topic that is very real, and help is out there, but literally no one ever wants to talk about it.
5. ‘Churchy stuff’ came up
Like many of the others mentioned above, times have changed on the island and speaking out against the church is no longer the worst possible thing you can do. Still, the backlash can get heavy pretty fast, so there’s still an air of taboo around it.
6. Sex was also on people’s lips
If you take a look at the comments under some of our sex-positive articles, you’ll know exactly what we mean.
7. As is the topic of actual sex work
Apart from us flinging the word ‘a?ba’ around like there’s no tomorrow, regulation of and protection for sex workers is something that is instantly shot down when spoken about publicly.
Like many other taboos this is a reality on the island, and ignoring it just because you’re uncomfortable causes problems for people in the industry.
8. And HIV and AIDS was also brought up
Another silent killer, HIV and AIDS are known issues, but speaking about them and their treatment, especially from a personal perspective, has very serious repercussions on people’s attitude towards you.
9. Boobs cause many problems
An often-ignored taboo, which is strange considering half the population owns a pair.
10. Swinging couples is definitely not discussed in Malta
We knew this one was taboo when even we were taken aback for a second. Strictly monogamous relationships are not for everyone, and as long as all parties involved are ok with the setup, why is this such a hush topic?
11. Finally, abortion was mentioned as one of Malta’s final, big taboos
We all know how heated these debates can get. We’ve seen the comments and read the arguments, and while the topic is being spoken about widely, it’s still viewed as too taboo to discuss fairly on a national level, both for or against, without fear of backlash.