as or (plural: or ), literally grinders) also had certain societal roles, including doing tasks typically associated with men. Similarly to relationships, relationships were also defined for economic purposes, though less so. The older partner ( (plural: )) was typically wealthier and of a higher social class. Women who resisted marriage and were interested in education and careers were perceived as being , regardless of their actual sexual orientation. Collectively, homosexuals were called (literally woman, not man). Among the Maasai people, traditions of cross-dressing were common and typically performed at rituals. During initiation rituals, young male Maasai would often dress as women and wear the (ear-rings worn by women to show that they are married) and other female garments. Among the Kuria people, lesbian marriages were, and still are to some extent, quite commonplace. Though now not perceived as being "homosexual", these marriages are performed for economic and diplomatic purposes, such as when a family has no son. Societal acceptance and tolerance of homosexuality and same-sex relationships quickly disappeared after the arrival of the Europeans. Laws punishing homosexuality were enacted, and over time homophobia has become deeply ingrained in the population. In 2015, Adebisi Ademola Alimi, then a lecturer at the Humboldt University of Berlin, discussed this omnipresent homophobia in, not only Tanzania, but in Africa as a whole. Legality of same-sex sexual activity Throughout Tanzania, sex acts between men are illegal and carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Sex acts between women are not mentioned specifically in mainland Tanzanian law. The semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar outlaws same-sex sexual acts between women with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment or a TSh fine. Heterosexual oral and anal sex is also illegal. Mainland Tanzania The Penal Code of 1945 (as revised by the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act, 1998) of Human Rights in Tanzania provides as follows: Section 138A. Acts of gross indecency between persons. Any person who, in public or private commits, or is a party to the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any person of, any act of gross indecency with another person, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not less than one year and not exceeding five years or to a fine not less than one hundred thousand and not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings; save that where the offence is committed