Non-hegemonic sexual identities: Identity processes and coping strategies concerning prejudice

Abstract

As from a constructivist sociocultural perspective, the present article aims at analyzing the construction of non-hegemonic sexual identities in young adults living in the city of Brasilia, based on a qualitative research starting from a broad questioning: how do individuals give meaning to their homoerotic experiences? Six middle-class men and four women living in Brasilia, who see themselves as non-heterosexually oriented, participated in the research. The results indicate the importance of collective and personal strategies employed in daily life by the individuals to cope with prejudice and discrimination related to non-hegemonic sexual identities. Such strategies are constituent of the way the participants live with their homoerotic experiences, as well as with their social relations, and with themselves.