Dilemmas of Chinese Lesbian Youths in Contemporary Mainland China

Abstract

Obliviousness to co-existing heterosexuality and homosexuality undermines tolerance of same-sex attraction in traditional Chinese culture. With the influence of conservative Abrahamic religious values since the 19th century, homoeroticism became unacceptable in China. This qualitative research was carried out from March to September 2015 to explore the lived experiences of four millennial lesbians in communist China, regarding their views of and predicaments stemming from sexual minorities. The semi-structured, in-depth interviews carried out through communication technology, were transcribed and then analysed through interpretative phenomenological analysis, with the aid of a computerised qualitative data analysis software package. Member-checking, for triangulation, was used to enhance the rigour of this study. The findings reveal parental attitudes towards these youngsters, their redefinition of marriage, and their being doubly marginalised. They offer diverse vistas from Chinese lesbian youths to understand the challenges facing this victimised group in the context of East–West and traditional-contemporary ambiguities, in which this stigmatised population is struggling for sexual autonomy through this dilemma. They potentially inspire social activists to advance further for the benefits of LGBs through rejuvenating the inclusiveness of Chinese sexual culture.