| 概要 |
Based on interviews with 23 gay men in Hiroshima and Hokkaido, this paper traces processes of internalizing homophobia in gay men living in regional areas of Japan. Whereas previous research on gay li...fe stories was almost exclusively restricted to respondents who live in the large urban centers of the Kanto area, this paper examines the experiences of gay men in two peripheral sites of Japan. The interviews show that in regional locations, the ideology of heterosexism and homophobia remains strong and the pressure on gay men to remain closeted is very high. Another finding, however, also suggests that there are marked generational differences between respondents regarding the way and the degree to which homophobia is experienced or internalized. Some of the younger respondents attached less importance to their gay identity and noted less conflict or experience of homophobia which suggests changes in the attitude towards homosexuality in their social environment. Especially the fact that some young men have never been closeted and thus never "came out" highlights the "closet" as a precondition of coming out and calls for a reconsideration of the significance that has been attested to the "coming out" act itself. Nevertheless, in peripheral regions where heterosexism and homophobia remain firmly entrenched most homosexuals are still forced to live their lives in the closet. What kind of support can be extended to these people remains an issue for further consideration and research.続きを見る
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Mendeley出力
