Being a gay man in Turkey: internalised sexual prejudice as a function of prevalent hegemonic masculinity perceptions

This paper examines expressions and experiences of internalised sexual stigma with respect to definitions of masculinity and identity conflicts through the thematic analysis of life-history narratives of 14 self-identified gay men living in Turkey. The analysis reveals that internalised sexual prejudice emerges when the widely accepted hegemonic masculinity ideology is ‘violated’ by being gay. Participants’ narratives indicate that their construction of masculinity is a vigorous process established via encounters with hegemonic masculinity. Findings are discussed in the context of the relevant literature and in relation to Turkish culture’s traditional understanding of gender and gender roles.