Resilience in the lives of sexual minority women dealing with twofold peril in India

Abstract

Using a model of transactional resilience, this study examined the development of resilience in relation to stressors experienced by sexual minority women throughout the life course. Twenty-five urban women were interviewed about their experiences related to gender and sexuality in Indian society. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings showed that women experienced implicit and explicit forms of sexism and heterosexism, making it difficult to survive in a patriarchal and heteronormative society. Several resilience factors were identified reflected in women's efforts to deal with stressors to maintain and create support. Positive characteristics and smart strategies helped participants survive stressful events and maintain healthy relations with others. They also helped them by creating a safe and positive social environment. Findings point to the need to better understand the resilience process among similar populations of women in societies like India, where patriarchy and unequal opportunities affect wellbeing and quality of life.

Keywords:

• Sexual minority
• women
• gender and sexuality
• resilience
• India

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to participants who shared their life experiences. I also thank the anonymous reviewers for their feedback and suggestions on how to improve the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 In this study, sexual minority women are those who are assigned female at birth and self-identify themselves as women but who are sexually attracted to other women. They may self-label themselves variously as lesbian, bisexual and/or queer.

2 Section 377 of Indian Penal Code criminalised same-sex sexual behaviour between adults (punishable for life imprisonment or imprisonment up to 10 years with fine).

3 In, September 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalised part of the Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which had earlier criminalised consensual same-sex activity between adults. This was a significant step to combatting the history of marginalisation and stigmatisation experienced by sexual minority populations in India.

Additional information

Funding

The research described in this paper was supported by an Indian University Grant Commission doctoral fellowship (no. G150342) to the author held at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India.