How do homosexuals who cannot get an identity get along in Chinese society?

Name

Institution

How do homosexuals who cannot get an identity get along in Chinese society?

Introduction

Background of the study

China considered consensual sexual acts between people of the same sex as hooliganism and was punishable by imprisonment or extreme execution. However, in 1997, homosexuality was decriminalized and removed from the list of psychiatric disorders in 2001. It was considered an act against human nature; hence, it was a crime. Since the decriminalization and delisting of homosexuality, individuals still face discrimination in healthcare, employment, and society, making the individuals fail to talk to their families about being gay. Therefore, the people lack social identity, which is essential in making people have a group to gain a sense of belonging in the social world. Identity shapes how people feel about themselves and how they live with other people. Therefore, it determines the types of connections and relationships with the society that individuals would have and can create within an environment. The created negativity of homosexuals within the society made it difficult for them to coexist and get along in Chinese society.

Rationale

Homosexuals have become one of the vulnerable groups in China due to the perception that was created of homosexuality being a crime. Therefore, Chinese society has not fully accepted the practice within its environment; hence, individuals fail to create an identity. According to Williams (2020), China has had the Lunar New Year where family and friends gather together to strengthen their bonds and have a good time. During these celebrations, gays hide their identities due to the fear of being treated differently by others. This is because same-sex marriage is not recognized within the Chinese law; hence, people struggle for acceptance, especially among close family and friends with traditional expectations. According to Xie &Peng (2018), 78.53% have conservative views about homosexuality in China because they feel it is wrong. Therefore, the study aims to find how homosexuals get along within Chinese society to define ways to improve their status.

Research Questions

How does the law view Homosexuality issues?

What are the factors that influence homosexual identity matters within Chinese society?

What actions can be taken to reduce the impact of the negative perceptions towards homosexuality in the environment?

Literature Review

Law influence on homosexuality influence

China laws have been had on homosexuals in the country due to the country considered it as hooliganism; hence, individuals were scared to reveal their identity. Homosexual men were stigmatized, denounced, imprisoned, or subjected to moral and often extra-legal sanctions. According to the traditional laws, a man was not supposed to get a sexual engagement with another as it was against the nature of individuals. According to the law Qing law, the law should be open-minded and flexible to accommodate different identities within a region it governs. It introduced two special devices, including catch-all provisions and the analogy required for colorably immoral and punishable by law. To support the traditional law, the criminal law in 1954 stated that hooligans who fail to engage in honest work or disrupt public order are sentenced to up to 5 years of fixed-term imprisonment, death, or life imprisonment. Since homosexuality was considered hooliganism, the law applied to them. According to Article 106 of Chinese criminal law, homosexual men were arrested due to the prohibitions against hooliganism.

Perceptions on homosexuality

Perceptions of homosexuality are formed based on the traditional norms and beliefs that guide people within the society. According to Hu & Wang (2013), middle-aged adults, gay and bisexual men who lived with their parents, were found to be psychologically vulnerable hence with higher levels of homophobia. According to the Confucian notion of filial piety, homosexual children cannot fulfill their parents’ duty unless they are in a heterosexual marriage. Therefore, they are considered weaklings, less able to fulfill their responsibilities and a group that is not accepted. China has a strong belief in the Confucian theories, believing that each idea mentioned is accurate and tends to act as they say. Therefore, the people in the society create a perception towards the individuals making it difficult to coexist in the society.

Methodology

Research Design

The research design refers to integrating components of a study to answer the research question coherently and logically. The study will apply a qualitative approach to understand the cultures of Chinese that influence homosexuals and the strategies they put in place to get along in the environment. The study employed the ethnographic research method that emphasizes the study of phenomena within its culture. This is through a sense approaching the observed activities and behaviours of the individuals focused on. The qualitative approach makes it possible to understand attitudes and incorporates human experience, making it convenient for the study. Understanding the behaviour and life of homosexuals is possible through the understanding of the cultures and people’s attitudes towards them.

Data Collection method

Data were collected through observation of the ways of living of the homosexual fraternity and other people’s attitudes towards them. It also applies interviews while considering the homosexual group to understand their ways of living in a society that critiques their actions. The combination of the observation and interview provided detailed information about the group and their relations with other people within the environment.

Population and Sample

The study considered the homosexuality group within China and focused on interviewing the leaders of Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). The interview involved two individuals within the group in getting information on how they cope within the environment and how they get to relate with other people to get along within the society. The observation included their behaviour in social gatherings, the actions of people in relationships while in public and how society treats them. On the other hand, the interview involved questions on the extent of homosexuality acceptance within the Chines society, the factors affecting their wellbeing, the actions undertaken to prevent stigma, and the methods through which the impact can be reduced.

Results and Findings

Law Influence on Homosexuality

The number of homosexual individuals in China is increasing, but many individuals are trying to make it secret. The law of China had criminalized homosexuality, making it difficult for people to speak about their sexuality in public. This is due to the consequences placed for any person to have a relationship with the same sex. In 1997, the government legalized homosexuality, but the marriage of two same-gender individuals has not been legalized. Therefore, the group still faces barriers in their wellbeing as they cannot decide to make their relationships legal as the law fails to recognize the type of marriage. Therefore, the individuals in a relationship try not to show their actions in public nor insinuate any information on lesbianism nor gayism. However, some individuals find it easy to speak about their sexuality on social media and in public but only in civilized environments. The conservative environments do not recognize the changes in people’s behaviors; hence it becomes risky for them to speak about their sexuality. The people would judge them and get humiliation within the society.

From the interview, the respondents identified the problems faced by the homosexual group. There are discriminations in the employment sectors and provision of services for the individual, especially for public institutions. Society has created a perception that fails to accept them among their social groups; hence they have to perform activities among themselves. Even though there are campaigns to identify the rights and powers of homosexuals within society, the perceptions of individuals and the traditional norms make it difficult for them to practice their rights and be protected by law.

Actions to Prevent Stigmatization

The interview showed that the leaders of the campaigns wish that same-sex couples should gain visibility in the eyes of their neighbours and the government alike. It can be done through campaigns and social groups that educate and inform other people on the rights of the individuals and the way other individuals should treat them within the environment. The greatest challenge within the Chinese environment is the cultural norms that prevent people from changing their perceptions and attitudes towards homosexual individuals. The cultural values of the Chinese consider the nature of humans, which, according to them, value heterosexual relationships and that person of the opposite sex should have relationships and not people of same-sex. Therefore, it becomes difficult for people to accept the changes in society. In societies where homosexuality has been accepted, people within the regions have embraced new ways of living and civilized laws, hence flexible embracing changes.

Homosexual individuals living in the same environment with other people also increases the acceptance of the people within the society. This is because they are able to understand their behaviours and see that the individuals live normal lives. It makes it easy for the community to accept the sexual changes that people embrace.

Discussion

According to Chen (2017), the phase of transforming sexuality involves various and conflicting types of sexual identity. The cultural values, sexual cultures, and government laws make it difficult for people to accept the changes that may occur within the environment. Also, the incorporation of laws in the government has had challenges due to the conflicting ideas with the Chinese culture. Its incorporation would mean going against the foundational values of the community; hence its acceptance would be difficult. According to the interview, the conversations with the relevant bodies became futile since both the cultural values and the individual interests are considered. Harmonizing the values has become a challenge as each of the individuals wishes to conserve their norms. However, the suggestion to use agencies and political interventions will help educate individuals to learn to respect other people along with their cultures, drawbacks, and strengths. The agencies would help to speak for homosexuals and help protect their rights and values, enabling them to live in an environment accepting different values, hence accepting them in society. According to Dean (1996), the government and people can work towards enfolding the society to get desired goals.

Homosexuals get along in society by considering the cultural values and norms and preventing their identities from being known by the public. The knowledge of the actions supported and those not supported by cultural values enable them to understand what they can speak about in public and the issues that they cannot mention as t would lead to harsh conditions of social living. Also, homosexuals living together or close to one another refer to themselves as friends or relatives to prevent society from knowing their sexuality. Through these methods, homosexuals can get along with other individuals.

Recommendation

Stigmatization has led to psychological problems among homosexuals; hence involving psychiatric institutions that can accommodate the affected individuals would prevent the impact on society. Therefore, letting the community know about their sexuality would diminish, creating a better environment for their living. Also, encouraging individuals to become more civilized and accept other people’s identities would create a more friendly environment for homosexuals. As Nimmons (1994) argues, acknowledging homosexuality as a part of human conduct help in enhancing the culture as people would understand themselves better. The Chinese laws need to consider the changes that develop within the cultural set up to incorporate the individuals embracing them. The inclusion of laws that support the individuals would make it easier for society to accept the individuals within the society.

Conclusion

Homosexuality in China was considered a crime, and individuals found they were punished through imprisonment or death. However, the government criminalized the act; hence the individuals are free from hiding their identities. However, marriage for homosexuals has not been legalized, making it difficult for them to legalize their relationships. Most of the individuals fail to disclose their sexualities due to the stigmatization received from society. Since it was first considered a crime, people’s perception of homosexuality is negative and convincing individuals to have a good attitude is difficult. Nevertheless, having agencies and working with political leaders would influence people to change their perceptions towards the group. This would create a more friendly environment for homosexuals as they become accepted in the societies.

References

Chen, F. (2017). Gender, sexuality, and social change in contemporary China. Sexuality & Culture, 21(4), 953-975.

Fausto-Sterling, A. (2019). Gender/sex, sexual orientation, and identity are in the body: How did they get there?. The Journal of Sex Research, 56(4-5), 529-555.

Dean, M. (1996). Foucault, government and the enfolding of authority. Foucault and political reason: Liberalism, neo-liberalism and rationalities of government, 209-229

Hu, X., & Wang, Y. (2013). LGB Identity Among Young Chinese: The Influence of Traditional Culture. Journal Of Homosexuality, 60(5), 667-684. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2013.773815

Nimmons, D. (1994). Sex and the Brain. Discover, 15(3), 64-71.

Williams, S. (2020). Why China’s LGBT hide their identities at Lunar New Year. BBC News. Retrieved 31 May 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51199309.

Xie, Y., & Peng, M. (2018). Attitudes toward homosexuality in China: Exploring the effects of religion, modernizing factors, and traditional culture. Journal of homosexuality, 65(13), 1758-1787.