Joy in the margins: examining narratives of everyday resistance among SGM BIPOC young adults in Orange County

Abstract

Background: Joy is a powerful and necessary counterpoint to the challenges faced by sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) communities. This study explores how SGM young adults of color in Orange County, California, cultivate joy as a form of everyday resistance and well-being in the face of systemic oppression. Methods: Drawing on a participatory action research approach, we used PhotoVoice to engage 19 Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) SGM young adults as co-researchers. Participants documented and reflected on everyday experiences of joy through photographs and accompanying narratives, which were thematically analyzed. Results: Informed by Johansson and Vinthagen’s Everyday Resistance framework, we found that participants engaged in acts of detachment as a strategy for cultivating joy and resisting the demands of neoliberal productivity culture, including expectations of constant self-optimization, emotional endurance, and conformity. Conclusions: The study affirms the value of PhotoVoice in capturing the complex interplay between identity, environments, and systemic oppression. Centering joy in public health research can inform more affirming and culturally responsive interventions.