'I never faced up to being gay': sexual, religious and ethnic identities among British Indian and British Pakistani gay men.
This paper presents the findings from a comparative qualitative study of British Indian and British Pakistani gay men, all of whom self-identified as members of their religious communities. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and identity process theory. Results suggest that the intersection between sexuality and religion is more relevant to British Pakistani participants, while the intersection between sexuality and ethnicity is more relevant to British Indian participants. For British Indian participants in particular, homosexuality seems to be socially problematic, posing potential obstacles for interpersonal and intergroup relations. Conversely, for British Pakistanis, homosexuality is both socially and psychologically problematic, affecting intrapsychic as well as interpersonal levels of human interdependence. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Institute for Science and Society, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, UK. rusi.jaspal@gmail.com
Rusi
R
Jaspal
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D012938:Social Perception; D057545:Social Stigma; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology