Undoing the boundaries of heteronormative masculinity. Transnational experiences of Senegalese MSM living in Italy

ABSTRACT

The article focuses on the transnational trajectories of Senegalese MSM (men having sex with other men) living in northern Italy. It highlights how these individuals creatively adapt or challenge their masculinity and sexuality, taking into consideration the dominant gender norms prevailing in both Senegal and Italy. In Senegal, homoerotic practices are officially condemned, while in Italy they are frequently the source of overlapping discriminations. By looking at the experiences of Senegalese MSM, the article looks at how concrete and symbolic borders may be built and contested, but also how transnational trajectories actively contribute to challenging the hegemonic forms of masculinity in many aspects of everyday life.

KEYWORDS:

• Senegal
• masculinity
• heteronormativity
• homosexuality
• Italy

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the editor of this Special Issue (Reena Kukreja) for her comments and editorial work. I also thank the colleagues who participated in the workshop organized at the University of Iceland (20th and 21st April 2022) for their inspiring comments. All the remaining gaps are my responsibility.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Della Puppa (2014) and Fidolini (2019) analysed the experiences of Bangladeshi and Moroccan men struggling with social expectations associated to their life trajectories to Italy.

2 In accordance with the participants’ explicit request, their names have been changed.

3 It would be a mistake to consider the reported reflections as valid also for Senegalese women expressing non-heteronormative sexualities and for trans or non-binary people. Further inquiries on these genders and sexualities are required.

4 Those who had been interviewed by asylum authorities consented to granting access to the transcripts of the conversations that they had with asylum officials.

5 With only a couple of asylum seekers a Gambian translator aided in conducting these interviews in Wolof and/or Mandinka. The involvement of a translator who was not a co-national, but a gay refugee himself, reassured them because of his open mindedness.

Additional information

Funding

This work has been supported by a studentship of the University of Padova (2014–2016) and it has been authorized by this institution. The research took into consideration its protocol concerning ethics.

Notes on contributors

Dany Carnassale

Dany Carnassale is adjunct lecturer of Cultural Anthropology at University of Padova (Italy). His research interests are at the intersection of migration studies and gender studies. He also worked on the issue of migrants seeking asylum in Italy for reasons related to their genders and sexualities.