Homosexuality in Hetero-sexist and Collectivist Context: From the Experience of Homophobia and the Anxiety of Socio-cultural Rejection to Identity Strategies
Keywords:
Homosexuality, hetero-sexist context, homophobia, sociocultural rejection anxiety, identity strategies
Abstract
This study raises the problem of failures in the construction of identity strategies among homosexuals in a homophobic and collectivist cultural context. It is guided by the models of identity strategies of Bajoit (2000) and Mellini (2009), and aims to understand their mechanisms of socio-cultural adaptation. Through the Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (API), we analyzed the speeches of two 24-year-olds and one 25-year-old, from Bamileke culture, encountered in a care structure for PLHIV and LGBTI at the West-Cameroon. Uninfected, they totaled scores of 10 to 11 on the Kinsey homosexual orientation scale translated by Tsagho (2014), and self-identify as homosexuals with genito-anal investment. It shows that they internalize a potentially vulnerable hetero-normative cultural signifier, due to their socialization in a culture that claims to be vitalist and whose cohesion and durability through procreation take precedence over personal aspirations/orientations. What reveals in their experience, a strong valence of anxiety of socio-cultural rejection. To manage these anxiety-provoking effects, they implement identity strategies such as hiding, denial, repair and avoidance. Indeed, because of the culturally hetero-sexist denial pact to which they have unconsciously subscribed, they camouflage themselves mainly in facade heterosexual unions, where they conceal their homosexual relations/relationships on the basis of friendship, without being discovered. What keeps them safe from suicide, abundantly noted in the literature (Firdion & Verdier, 2007) on psychiatric epidemiology in homosexuals.
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31. Pommier, F. (2010). The sufferings of sexual disclosure. Research in Psychoanalysis, 2 (10), 267-275.
32. Retschitzki, J. (2011). Culture as a factor in cognitive development. Alterstice, 1 (1), 81-94.
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35. Ryan, B. & Frappier, J-Y. (1994). When the other in oneself grows: The difficulties of experiencing homosexuality in adolescence. In The fear of the other in oneself. Mantreal: VLB.
36. Ryan, B. (n.d.). Accepting yourself as gay or lesbian: to end the shame. Alter Hero. Online: http://www.alterheros.com/francais/dossier/Articles.cfm?ss=t&s=&InfoID.
37. Scali, V.C. & Guichard, J. (2008). Identity: developmental perspectives. Educational and vocational guidance, 3 (37), 321-345.
38. Simonnot, P. (2014, 30 January). Adler: Homosexuality as a failure of education. News from France. Online: https://www.ndf.fr/poing-de-vue/30-01-2014/adlerlhomosexualité-comm-echec-de-leducation.
39. Smith, J., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: theory, method and research. London: Sage.
40. Sow, I. (1978). Structure anthropologique de la folie en Afrique noire. Paris : Payot.
41. Super, C. & Harkness, S. (1986). The Development niche: A Conceptualization at the Interface of Child and Culture. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 9(4), 545-570.
42. Tournier, M. (2011, 05 Oct). Gender theories, a danger for society? Online: http://www.lavie.fr/debats/etats-generaux-christianisme/les-theories-du-genre-un-dangerpour-la-societe-05-10-2011-20603_519.php.
43. Troiden, R.R. (1988). Homosexual Identity Development. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 9, 105-11.
44. Tsagho, T.A.D. (2014). Understanding homosexuality to better help victims: Testimonies of ex-gay people & Christian counseling protocol. Bafoussam: CRM-Publications.
45. Velter, A. (2004). Depressive state, suicidal behavior and homophobic discrimination. Health Watch Institute-Gay Press Survey, 57-69. Online: http://ww.invs.sante.fr/publications/2007/epg_2004/epg_etat_depressif.pdf. (Accessed 08/20/2019).
2. Assohoto, B. (2002). African reality and salvation in Jesus Christ, cosmology, anthropology and eschatology. Cotonou: CART.
3. Baecque, B.D. (2010). Homosexuality, bad gender? Some considerations on the foundations and consequences of "homophobia". Psy field, 2 (58), 125-139.
4. Bajoit G. (2000). Notes on the construction of personal identity. Sociological research, 2, 69-84.
5. Barrattini, A., Mazoyer, A-V., & Bourdet-Loubère, S. (2013). Understanding of the suicidal act in young homosexuals. Childhood & Psy, 4 (61), 169-178.
6. Beck, F., Firdion, J-M., Legleye, S., & Schiltz, M-A. (2011). Suicidal risks and sexual minorities: a recent problem. Agora debates/youth, 2 (58), 33-46.
7. Borrillo. D. (2014). Homophobia: better define it to better fight it. Hearing before the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights.
8. Cass V. (1984). Homosexual identity formation: testing a theoretical model. Journal of Sex Research, 20, 143-167.
9. Charbonnier, E. & Graziani, P. (2011). The perception of young lesbians and gays concerning the attitude of their parents towards their homosexuality. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 30, 31-46.
10. Government of Cameroon (2016). New Penal Code of Cameroon (Art. 341-1). S.l: S.e.
11. Demczuk, I., Dorais, M., Peers, L., & Ryan, B. (2010). Sexual orientation. PRISM. Online: http://www.miels.org/prisme/orientation-sexuale.
12. Firdion, J-M., & Verdier, E. (2007). Suicide and attempted suicide among people with a homo/bi-sexual orientation. Social sciences and AIDS, 157-168, ANRS, CRIPS.
13. Fraïssé, C. & Barrientos, J. (2016). The concept of homophobia: a psychosocial perspective. Sexologies, 550, 1-9.
14. Giorgi, A. (1975). An Application of Phenomenological Method in Psychology. In Dusquesne studies in Phenomenological Psychology. Humanities Press, 2, 82-103.
15. Gueboguo, C. (2006). For a revised and corrected reading of homosexuality in African doxic thought: Impacts, slippages and risks. Communication presented at the Catholic University of Central Africa as part of the activities of APDHAC-ACTION, Yaoundé (Cameroon).
16. Gueboguo, C. (2007). AIDS and homosexuality. In: Boulaga, E.B. (dir.), Dossier: Homosexuality is good to think about (pp. 113-132). Yaoundé: Terroir.
17. ean-Claude, C. (2016). Freud and the question of anxiety: Anxiety as a factor of evolution. Louvain-la-Neuve: De Boeck Superior.
18. Kaës, R. (2009). The psychic reality of the link. The Family Couch, 1 (22), 107-125.
19. Konig, A. (2017). The impact of homophobia on mental health. Culture & Society. Online: https://alpabem.qc.ca/limpact-de-lhomophobia-sur-la-sante-mentale.
20. Ladǒ, L. (2011). Popular homophobia in Cameroon. African Studies Notebooks, 204.
21. Latoki, P-E. (2010). Religion as a quest for order in traditional African society. Political psychology notebooks, 16. Online: http://lodel.irevues.inist.fr/cahierspsychologiepolitiqu/index.php?id=1415..
22. The shelter. (2013). Young adult victims of homophobia: What health care? A contribution to the work of the Conference for the fight against poverty and for social integration. National Association Le Refuge. Online: https://www.le-refuge.org/actions/lescontributions/261-conference-de-lutte-contre-la-pauvrete-et-pour-l-insertion-sociale.html..
23. Maiffret, A. & Vasconcello, D. (2004). Coming out: Social reality and psychic conflict among homosexuals. Psychiatric Information. 80 (5), 395-401.
24. Mayi (2007). The impact of prison conditions on the homosexual status of three adolescent girls. In: Boulaga, E.B. (dir.), Dossier: Homosexuality is good to think about (pp. 223-238). Yaoundé: Terroir.
25. Mellini, L. (2009). Between normalization and heteronormativity: the construction of homosexual identity. Deviance and Society, 1 (33), 3-26.
26. Menick, M.D. (2013). Impact of culture in the care of the child in educational, family and social practices. Communication presented at the conferences on the week of childhood, organized by the French Institute of Congo, Pointe Noire (Congo). Online: http://docplayer.fr/56479459-Projet-regional-de-sante-ile-de-france-de-prevention.html..
27. Naur. R.L. (2007). Anxiety disorders: diversity of theoretical approaches. Psychiatric Information, 9 (83), 775-780.
28. Paduart, P. (2004). Psyche and culture. Revue Belge de Psychanalyse, 45. Online: http://www.gercpea.lu/textes_livres/psychisme et culture_P_Paduart.pdf.
29. Perrenoud, M.W. (2012). Self-effacement, a specific form of narcissistic disorder. Considerations on the dynamics of the process, technical modalities. French Review of Psychoanalysis, 3 (76), 847-861.
30. More, G. (2014). Gender Theory: Human Progress or Real Danger? Online: http://www.lesalonbeige.blogs.com/files/la-th%C3%A9orie-du-genreprogr%C3%A8shuman-ou-danger-reel.pdf.
31. Pommier, F. (2010). The sufferings of sexual disclosure. Research in Psychoanalysis, 2 (10), 267-275.
32. Retschitzki, J. (2011). Culture as a factor in cognitive development. Alterstice, 1 (1), 81-94.
33. Rezo Health (2013). What impact can homophobia have on my son? Justice Quebec. Online: http://www.monfilsgai.org/savoir/quels-impacts-lhomophobia-peut-elle-avoirsur-votre-fil/.
34. Ribau, C., Lasry, J-C., Bouchard, L., Moutel, G., Hervé, C., & Marc-Vergnes, J-P. (2005). Phenomenology: a scientific approach to lived experiences. Nursing research, 2(81), 21-27.
35. Ryan, B. & Frappier, J-Y. (1994). When the other in oneself grows: The difficulties of experiencing homosexuality in adolescence. In The fear of the other in oneself. Mantreal: VLB.
36. Ryan, B. (n.d.). Accepting yourself as gay or lesbian: to end the shame. Alter Hero. Online: http://www.alterheros.com/francais/dossier/Articles.cfm?ss=t&s=&InfoID.
37. Scali, V.C. & Guichard, J. (2008). Identity: developmental perspectives. Educational and vocational guidance, 3 (37), 321-345.
38. Simonnot, P. (2014, 30 January). Adler: Homosexuality as a failure of education. News from France. Online: https://www.ndf.fr/poing-de-vue/30-01-2014/adlerlhomosexualité-comm-echec-de-leducation.
39. Smith, J., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: theory, method and research. London: Sage.
40. Sow, I. (1978). Structure anthropologique de la folie en Afrique noire. Paris : Payot.
41. Super, C. & Harkness, S. (1986). The Development niche: A Conceptualization at the Interface of Child and Culture. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 9(4), 545-570.
42. Tournier, M. (2011, 05 Oct). Gender theories, a danger for society? Online: http://www.lavie.fr/debats/etats-generaux-christianisme/les-theories-du-genre-un-dangerpour-la-societe-05-10-2011-20603_519.php.
43. Troiden, R.R. (1988). Homosexual Identity Development. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 9, 105-11.
44. Tsagho, T.A.D. (2014). Understanding homosexuality to better help victims: Testimonies of ex-gay people & Christian counseling protocol. Bafoussam: CRM-Publications.
45. Velter, A. (2004). Depressive state, suicidal behavior and homophobic discrimination. Health Watch Institute-Gay Press Survey, 57-69. Online: http://ww.invs.sante.fr/publications/2007/epg_2004/epg_etat_depressif.pdf. (Accessed 08/20/2019).
Published
2023-06-19
How to Cite
Yannick, T. F., & Alex Djibril, T. T. (2023). Homosexuality in Hetero-sexist and Collectivist Context: From the Experience of Homophobia and the Anxiety of Socio-cultural Rejection to Identity Strategies. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 18, 398. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/16871
Section
ESI Preprints
Copyright (c) 2023 Tamo Fogué Yannick, Tsagho Tchimeji Alex Djibril
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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