“I did not know I was gay”: sexual identity development and fluidity among married tongzhi in China

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the life experiences of married tongzhi (defined here as men who are sexually attracted to men) in mixed-orientation marriages in mainland China. The study used a life course perspective to understand sexual identity development among tongzhi, born in the 1970s or thereabouts, in heterosexual marriage and rural China. The study focused on identifying the experiences of the 13 tongzhi participants. Using thematic analysis, we found sexual identity development was influenced by China’s historical and social context and, in particular, internal (e.g. internalised heteronormativity), informational (e.g. Internet), and cultural (e.g. family-oriented) factors. Some tongzhi did not follow an identity development trajectory as “out and proud” since their identities were embedded in the complexity of family life and social pressure, the invisibility of “gay circles”, and normative social roles. They chose instead to maintain their heteronormative marriages, while seeking to explore and fulfil their homoerotic desires. Implications are discussed for epistemology, methodology and advocacy.

Keywords:

• Tongzhi
• gay and bisexual men
• mixed-orientation marriage
• sexual identity development
• sexual fluidity
• China

Acknowledgements

We thank respondents for their contribution to the study. We also thank Donna L Doane, Zhexi Hu and Le Cui for comments on, and proofreading of, drafts of this article. We also thank the editors and reviewers for their thoughtful comments and feedback.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The first author’s doctoral thesis from which this study was developed was supported by a China Scholarship Council. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.