Toward the Complexity of Identity: “Being and Not Being Lesbian” in Contemporary Thailand

Abstract

This paper uncovers the ways Thai lesbians negotiate and construct their sense of self as “lesbian,” particularly, in the process of “coming out.” It incorporates concepts such as perception and communication of self, as well as their relationships with partners and their families. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews with a sample of 13 self-identified lesbians, all of whom come from a middle-class background and engage in several professions. The results indicated that they constructed their lesbian identities while attempting to negotiate around established conformist and heteronormative structures. Respondents placed considerable emphasis on “not being different” with the notions of loving companionship, faithful relationships, and daughter obligations indicated the sameness. Conventional gender roles stemming from a dominant patriarchal culture continue to bind reported aspects of female same-sex practices. Thai lesbians continue to struggle, continuing to re-construct and deconstruct their identities even within the seemingly inclusive outlook of contemporary Thailand.