Identity Management and the Fostering of Network Ignorance: Accounts of Queer Iranian Women in the United States

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the narratives of 12, first-generation, queer, Iranian-American women in an attempt to better understand the experiences of being both Iranian and queer, and to explore the various ways participants manage their sexual identities within their ethnic communities. Online interviews were analyzed using grounded theory analysis, which revealed that shame anxiety motivates the fostering of network ignorance. Feelings of fear and guilt, which together cultivate shame anxiety, motivate the identity management strategies of queer Iranian women as they attempt to foster ignorance of their sexual orientation within the Iranian community. Strategies include (co)-covering, deceiving and passing, and avoiding.

Keywords:

• Queer
• identity management
• Iranian
• Sexuality
• stigma

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank Dr. Ryan Bisel and the JICR reviewers for their comments and suggestions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bobbi Van Gilder

Bobbi Van Gilder, Department of Communication, University of Oklahoma, 610 Elm Ave., Norman, OK 73019, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], M.A. granted at California State University, Long Beach, 2012.

Shadee Abdi

Shadee Abdi, Department of Communication Studies, California State University, Long Beach, M.A. granted at California State University, Long Beach, 2013. She is now at Department of Communication Studies, University of Denver, 2000 E. Asbury, Denver, CO 80208, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone].