Abstract
The social and political context of sexual identity development in the United States has changed dramatically since the mid
twentieth century. Same-sex attracted individuals have long needed to reconcile their desire with policies of exclusion, ranging
from explicit outlaws on same-sex activity to exclusion from major social institutions such as marriage. This paper focuses
on the implications of political exclusion for the life course of individuals with same-sex desire through the analytic lens
of narrative. Using illustrative evidence from a study of autobiographies of gay men spanning a 60-year period and a study
of the life stories of contemporary same-sex attracted youth, we detail the implications of historic silence, exclusion, and
subordination for the life course.
twentieth century. Same-sex attracted individuals have long needed to reconcile their desire with policies of exclusion, ranging
from explicit outlaws on same-sex activity to exclusion from major social institutions such as marriage. This paper focuses
on the implications of political exclusion for the life course of individuals with same-sex desire through the analytic lens
of narrative. Using illustrative evidence from a study of autobiographies of gay men spanning a 60-year period and a study
of the life stories of contemporary same-sex attracted youth, we detail the implications of historic silence, exclusion, and
subordination for the life course.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-21
- DOI 10.1007/s13178-011-0060-3
- Authors
- Phillip L. Hammack, Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Bertram J. Cohler, Department of Comparative Human Development, The University of Chicago, 5730 S. Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Journal Sexuality Research and Social Policy
- Online ISSN 1553-6610
- Print ISSN 1868-9884