Stigma Narratives: LGBT Transitions and Identities in Malta

Abstract

This article considers narratives of transition experiences of a group of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people in Malta. The article draws on Coffman's concept of stigma and uses this to explore transitions in a society that retains some traditional characteristics, particularly the code of honour and shame, although mediated by aspects of modernity. Interviews were undertaken with 15 young people with the goal of producing narratives. The article analyses the experience of stigma, its effects and how young people manage its consequences. It concludes by drawing attention to the pervasive nature of stigma and the importance of structure, agency and reflexivity in youth transitions. In particular stigma remains an important feature of societies in which hetero-normative sexuality remains dominant.

Parents of Gay Sons Redefining Masculinity

“…The findings indicate that parents had internalized a hetero- culine privileges as a response to "social difficulties not encountered by heterosexual youth" [25]. Stigma and prejudice are more associated with sexual minority youth than with heterosexual individuals [26].…”

“EU TENTO NÃO ME ESCONDER, NUNCA”: estratégias utilizadas pelos profissionais gays e lésbicas para minimizar os estigmas sexuais nos espaços de trabalho

“…Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar as estratégias utilizadas por gays e lésbicas para evitar ou minimizar o estigma nos espaços de trabalho. Para tanto, foi utilizada a teoria do estigma de Goffman (1988), bem como contribuições de diversos autores que retomam Goffman na atualidade (Adams, 2010;Beatty & Kirby, 2006;Berkley, Beard & Daus, 2018;Bradford & Clark, 2011;Clair, Beatty & Maclean, 2005;Herek, 2004;Ragins, Singh & Cornwell, 2007) e outros que buscam incorporar suas análises a fenômenos sociais contemporâneos, tais como as redes sociais (Devito, Walker & Birnholtz, 2018;Duguay, 2016;Owens, 2016). Em virtude dos esforços destes e de outros autores, há mais de quatro décadas as reflexões trazidas por Goffman (1988) permanecem vivas e continuam produzindo intenso debate no atual universo acadêmico.…”

Rediscovery of the Malay ‘local:’ youth and TV fiction in Malaysia

“…Research by Bradford and Clark (2011) has shown that globalization shapes and nurtures youth in their engagement with adulthood. Emphasizing the many ways modernity and tradition intersect, Bradford and Clark (2011) argue that despite the prevailing forces of globalization that put youth at the centre of discussion, aspects of tradition continue to shape lived experience.…”

“…Emphasizing the many ways modernity and tradition intersect, Bradford and Clark (2011) argue that despite the prevailing forces of globalization that put youth at the centre of discussion, aspects of tradition continue to shape lived experience. Globalization, rather than being totalizing and universal, is played out in particular, local and nuanced ways.…”

“…Its scope and impact is contingent on a range of specific factors: history, culture, place, and so on. (p. 196) While many trajectories can be delineated from Bradford and Clark's (2011) study on stigmatization and discrimination, many adolescents in various parts of the world also experience similar types of risks. In Malaysia, for instance, 4.5 million youth aged 15-25 years old are at-risk, with at least 500, 000 youth admitted to have been involved in violence and crimes (Johan, 2014;Samsudin, 2010, p. 24), including, but are not limited to homicides, rape, theft, felony, cyber-bullying and (aggravated) battery (Government Transformation Program, 2014;Hanif Suhairi, 2015;Johan, 2014).…”