Internalized sexual stigma as an internal minority stress: The Egyptian gay experience

Abstract

This qualitative study examined the process of Internalized Sexual Stigma (ISS) in a sample of Egyptian gay men. Participants' experience of ISS was explained using the theoretical understanding that it represents an internal form of minority stress, which is the excess and harmful stress often experienced by individuals from stigmatized social categories due to their minority position. Thematic analysis of interviews with eight Egyptian gay males suggested that these men experienced internal minority stress as a result of the sexually-prejudiced messages they received from different sectors of their society, including its non-affirming religious institutions. Moreover, thematic analysis added cultural understanding to this theoretical explanation by producing an emerging theme that highlighted the possible role of societal pressure to meet gender expectations in perpetuating this problem. Recommendations for mental health professionals who conduct clinical interventions with gay men from diverse populations are provided.

Keywords:

• Discrimination
• shame
• psychotherapy
• sexual orientation
• gay men
• sexual identity
• gender

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.