The human rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) population is repeatedly violated in countries around the world. Discrimination, violence, and state-led persecution towards the LGBTIQ population takes a negative toll on development and will ultimately affect the outcome of SDG 10, reduced inequalities. In an African context, the needs of the LGBTIQ population often go unnoticed when not formally addressed and a lack of inclusion along with a discriminatory legal framework puts the LGBTIQ population at an increased risk of being left behind in the quest to achieve Agenda 2030.  Tanzania holds some of the highest punishments in the world for same-sex acts, with up to life imprisonment. This study is focused on challenges faced by the Tanzanian LGBTIQ group, perceived social inclusion, the current development of LGBTIQ rights, factors that affect this development, and how LGBTIQ rights can be improved. Through an abductive case study, this thesis draws on eighteen semi-structured interviews as its primary sources. It also employs current literature as secondary sources. To analyse the data Queer theory and a rights-based approach are employed to uncover structures that affect LGBTIQ inclusion. Findings suggest that LGBTIQ individuals are under immense societal pressure to conform to heteronormative gender roles to avoid discrimination. Further, LGBTIQ rights are found to be affected by political, cultural, religious, and generational factors. Findings also suggest that local context is important to consider in the process of making norms more favorable for LGBTIQ equality and inclusion. This thesis also highlights areas of improvement for LGBTIQ inclusion and equality in form of eradicating discriminatory laws, in line with SDG 10. As well as capacitating institutions to queer practices with a synergy of a bottom-up and top-down approach.

<p>This quantitative study sought to expand upon research surrounding the influence pornography use has on relationship and sexual satisfaction for gays and lesbians. Previous literature has primarily focused on the couple outcomes associated with pornography use for heterosexual romantic relationships. This research was conducted and conceptualized through the lens of queer and minority stress theory. It was hypothesized that amount of shared pornography use would be positively associated with relationship and sexual satisfaction for same-sex couples. Additionally, it was hypothesized that the relationship between amount of shared pornography use and relationship as well as sexual satisfaction for same-sex couples will be more strongly positively associated for a high level of acceptance of pornography use. Lastly, it was hypothesized that the relationship between the amount of shared pornography use and level of relationship as well as sexual satisfaction will be more strongly positively associated for women than men. Five of the six hypotheses were not statistically significant. The relationship between amount of shared pornography use and level of sexual satisfaction was strongly positively associated for higher levels of acceptance of pornography use. In addition, higher levels of acceptance of pornography use were related to higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Regarding control variables, relationship status was found to be significantly associated with relationship satisfaction. Participants who reported being either engaged or married indicated higher satisfaction with the current state of their romantic relationship than participants who were dating or cohabitating. Strengths and limitations, clinical implications, and future directions for research are explored.<br></p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / There is a psychosexual health crisis in the African American community, with disproportionate rates of HIV/AIDS infections and poorer medical treatment outcomes for Black men and women (Fullilove, 2006; CDC, 201 0). In contrast to the homophobic responses of most Black Churches, some Black Churches are offering an affirmative ministry for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) individuals. This dissertation examines how these ministries developed and what strategies they employ in response to the HIV/AIDS health crisis. Building on Stigmatization theory, Queer theory, and previous research on Black Churches, I construct a conceptual framework for interpreting this phenomenon. Using the Heuristic methodology, I explore the historical, theological, and practical dimensions of four LGBT -affirming African American ministries. During a period of four to six weeks with each church, I conducted two narrative mterviews with the pastors, 15 to 20 hours of observation of ministry activities, and a review of church documents regarding relationships with the LGBT community. Using narrative analysis and grounded theory, I analyzed the interviews, documents and observational field notes for evidence of the LGBT affirmative ministry. I constructed holistic profiles of each church and a composite profile of the four. All four pastors credited formal theological education and personal experiences with the LGBT community as sources of their theologies. Two of the pastors self-identified as members of the LGBT community; LGBT inclusion was the central focus of their ministries. The other two pastors integrated LGBT inclusion into a broad based social justice ministry that focused on multiple oppressions, including racism and sexism. All four pastors seek to avoid the psychological, spiritual, and physical harm that homophobic Black churches inflict on LGBT Black folk, and seek thereby to discourage behaviors that contribute to the proliferation of HIV/AIDS. Each pastor offered LGBT affirmative strategies for decreasing LGBT stigmatization and HIV infections in the Black community. / 2031-01-01

The ​aim​ of this study was to examine transgendered persons experiences of social norms andattitudes related to their gender identity. More specifically the study focused on thecisgender- and hetero norm and how these affect transgender persons transition process andtheir everyday life. The ​method​ used to collect data was by reading five autobiographicalbooks written by transgendered persons. Collected data was analyzed using queer theory andthematized into four different themes; ​The importance of passing, The environments attitudesand reactions, To be yourself or someone else ​and ​Social relationships​. The​ results ​indicatethat transgendered persons are highly affected by norms and are often victims ofdiscrimination due to their gender identity. To “pass” as either man or woman is thereforecrucial to avoid negative attitudes and harassment. The results also showed the difficulty fortransgendered persons to reveal their gender identity to society and their close ones and howdifferent reactions can either discourage or normalize the heteronormative structures thatexists in our society. The​ conclusion ​was that transgendered persons are affected bycisgendered- and heteronormative norms in both their transition process and their everydaylife. Society is categorizing people as either man or woman, and whoever doesn’t fit in thegiven gender roles is classed as deviant

This case study was written to explore the different branches of queer theory and its links to the architecture of bath-houses. This, from both a historicaland a modern-day societal perspective. By implementing researcher Katarina Bonnevier’s queer theory on performativity and cross-cladding, I aim to investigate how the swimming pool and the bath-house can be re-envisioned.Throughout the country, the need for renovating and extending the existing portfolio of swimming pools and bath-house institutions has grown large. Meanwhile, thenumber of queer spaces in the city of Stockholm has over the years diminished. Therefore, I have chosen Liljeholmsbadet at Södermalm, an institution currently facing demolition, as subject of this case study and I propose a reinvention of it into a gay bath-house.Through literary research, observations, and studyvisits to public bath-houses, I will analyse the swimmingpool and what role it has played in society and in the queer community.Subsequently, using Bonnevier’s theoretical framework,I will redesign Liljeholmsbadet and dissect this new gay bath-house’s different components. By “queering” the already-built, this thesis speculates on what lies in the future of the bath-house.This diploma project is not to be viewed as a finished design proposal or an answer to a question, but as a starting point for further discussions.The thesis is split in two parts, a theoretical background as a framework, and a design proposal.

This study examines how preservice teachers reflect upon queer pedagogy in relation to their future profession as English teachers. The purpose is to find out if preservice English language teachers consider queer theory to be important in their future profession, and if they do, find out what aspects they think are important, and what aspect could be challenging. Focus group interviews conducted with preservice teachers from Västra Götaland showed that queering English language teaching deemed important to encourage critical thinking, question norms and promote normalization of queer topics and acceptance of others. Results suggest that queer theory should be implemented in a natural way in order to avoid othering. The major concerns of the participants can be summarized as fear of being uninformed, and offending or differentiating students without meaning to. Moreover, many found it challenging to engage in the process of 'queering materials' as there are no clear guidelines or instructions, the responsibility placed on the individual teacher. In conclusion, preservice teachers would benefit from more queer theory courses related to their subjects, and opportunities to actively 'queer' and evaluate materials during their undergraduate teaching programs. This could provide confidence when working with and implementing queer theory in the classroom.

Media is responsible to operate as a room for democratic and interacting discussions in our society. Furthermore, media is a significant part of the overall social context in which citizens are included. Despite increased equality in society, the media still represents women and men unequal which has an impact on the norms and values that prevail in society. Women are still underrepresented in Swedish media content and women’s perspectives and experiences are either marginalized or lacking. This thus confirms and reproduces a society and power structure in which men are superior to women. Further entrepreneurship is critical as it contributes with economic growth and social development and therefore of value for society and politics.  The aim of this study is to examine how women’s entrepreneurship is represented in Framgångspodden and how this podcast discursively constructs gender. The research questions build upon previous studies that show how female entrepreneurs are represented and portrayed differently than male entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the representation of women’s entrepreneurship is gender stereotypical where masculine and feminine characteristics are contrasted. Previous studies also show how the entrepreneurship field is severe to unequal power relations and how female entrepreneurs are diminished.    Through a thematic and critical discourse analysis this study examines how 13 Swedish female entrepreneurs are represented in Framgångspodden. The conclusion of this qualitative study validates previous studies and shows how gender stereotypes exist in a Swedish entrepreneurial context and that the discourse is dominated by a distinct order of power. Framgångspodden defends the masculine entrepreneurship discourse and reproduces the image of how a female entrepreneur should behave or be, by describing her with feminine qualities or placing her in a narrow spectrum of masculine stereotypes. This study confirms that the women's entrepreneurship discourse in Sweden is characterized by masculinity and female entrepreneurs are represented based on their gender roles.

This is a qualitative essay that deals with students' experience of primary school sex andrelationship education. The purpose was to gain new knowledge into how students in theirfirst year of high school experienced primary school sex education about sexuality, consentand relationships in terms of both its form and content, with a hope to contribute knowledgethat may be relevant to the school's actors who from 2022 will implement new curriculumchanges. The subjects we have chosen are students who are in their first year of uppersecondary school and have a relatively recent and clear picture of the teaching they receivedfrom primary school. To collect our data, we used a qualitative method of focus groupinterviews that were recorded and transcribed. The data has been analyzed with the help ofPeter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann’s socialization theory and Judith Butler's queertheory, as well as five articles with previous research. The results of our study reveal, asdescribed in background and previous research, a failure to provide an education that isadapted to today's societies problems and youth culture. Specifically there is a lack ofconversation and up-to-date knoledge about LGBTQ identities, the course literature'spresentation of heteronormativity and the teacher's need for competence development andinterpretation of the curriculum's content in this subject. There was also a lack of deeperdiscussions regarding relationships, feelings, consent and desire, and a greater participationand engagement in the teaching was desired.

This dissertation is about how dominant identity is constructed through the centering and incorporation of marginal and subaltern subjectivities in Ancient Greek thought, with some preliminary consideration of the Classical Age but chiefly devoted to a study of Hellenistic poetic aesthetics at Ptolemaic Alexandria. The thesis argues ultimately for a specifically Queer and Afrocentric reading of the ArgonautikaI use postcolonial methods, tactics, and strategies to theorize the genealogical intersection(s) of gender and race, and explore the ancient roots of racism. I am indebted in my work to Critical Race Theory, Gender and Queer Theory, Intersectionality Theory and Decolonial Studies. Guided by the millennial discourses of the Coloniality of power and the contributions of Aníbal Quijano and his intellectual heirs to critical thought and theory—positing the fundamental and central functions of epistemological thought, knowledge-production and the control and regulation of knowledge within oppressive social orders as specifically and particularly interrelated practices in the European colonialism of Modernity, and enabling us to deconstruct out of our contemporary knowledge and social practices the oppressive consequences in Modernity as a result of the aftermath of Old World regimes in the New World—the argument throughout this dissertation subjects monuments of Classical Greek literature to an analysis that traces loosely a genealogy of how ideology and identity were constructed and fabricated in imperial contexts in the aftermath of the Greco-Persian Wars, during which time Hellenic peoples were first exposed to Empire, and some great portions of the Greek-speaking world came under the dominion of the Achaemenid imperial regime. In a manner of speaking, this dissertation deconstructs the intersections of identity, including gender (and ethnicity) and “race”, at pivotal moments in the history of Greek Antiquity. Principal test-cases for this study analyze monumental texts produced in societies under the hegemony of “democratic” imperial authority at Athens in the 5th Century BCE and Ptolemaic Egypt in the 3rd Century, in the aftermath of Alexander’s conquests. This dissertation explores how the control and regulation of racialized and ethnic marginalities and subalternities is critical to civic and political structures in the Classical Age, as well as how the interrelated concept of the gendered other, in artistic expressions of knowledge and authority—high literary monuments—functioned critically to reify and justify imperial and colonial practices in the Ancient Greek World. Chapter 1 consists primarily of readings of the Wesir-Heru (“Osiris-Horus”) dynastic succession myth from Egypt in representations of kingship and dynastic succession particularly in Africa and African spaces in the texts of Pindar, Herodotos, and Aiskhylos, including an exploration of the what at the instigation of Jackie Murry I call the Imagistic Poetics of Pindar and Aiskhylos in comparative consideration of Egyptian symbolic literary culture, including even the mdw-ntjr (“hieroglyphs”), and an especially instructive close reading of the center of the Agamemnon. To support my readings of Aiskhylos’ interactions with Egypt and Egyptian thought, I also consider how Aiskhylos interacted with the legacy of the Danaid myth. Situated in their proper historical contexts these readings demonstrate that during the height of the Achaemenid Empire in the Mediterranean World, which coincides incidentally with what we call the Greek Classical Age, Hellenism and Africanism were not mutually exclusive. In fact, as we see early in Chapter 1 with Pindar, Africanism is coextensive with Panhellenism. Furthermore, and critically, as part of my readings of gender as racialized—i.e., constructed under the Ancient Greek linguistic paradigms that govern “racial” otherness (genos)—I show that Blackness, beyond representing masculinity and the male body in the Greek artistic and visual imagination, is separable notionally in the Ancient Greek imagination, and in critical contrast to the modern and contemporary situation, from Africanism. In order to perform this work, I call upon archaeology and material evidence to render a more coherent picture of the networks of culture accessible in the micro- and macro-regions of an interconnected and transnational Ancient Mediterranean. In Appendixes to Chapter 1, I also provide brief readings of intertextuality in the Hellenistic reception at Alexandria of Classical Greek interactions with Egypt, Libya, and the African cultural past and show the embeddedness of that interaction in literary encounters especially, a fact evident from the Classical Greek texts. Chapter 2 explores the Hellenistic origins of Afro-Greek subjectivity in the literary record with Theokritos at Alexandria. I explore “race” in the West and the formation of Greek ethnicity in the East as a “kairological” artistic and poetic projection that exposes of the roots of 3rd-century universalist and globalist Ptolemaic imperial ideology. I also explore Space and identity, the social imaginary, and consequent(ial)ly the gendering of space in the poetry of Poseidippos. In my readings, we see texts engaged intimately with discourses about Sovereignty, and implicitly with the history of Rome and Qrt-ḥdšt (“Carthage”). Chapters 3 and 4 function as a pair or couple. After a full historical and social contextualization of Ptolemaic Alexandria in the Hellenistic Age of the 3rd Century BCE, as well as an exploration of an inclusive range of Queer (including “LGBTQ+”) subjectivities in Alexandrian poetry in Chapter 3, in Chapter 4 I argue that in the Argonautika of Apollonios Rhodios Medeia represents a Queer woman who endures systematic heteronormative and patriarchal oppression, or heterosexism. This opens up Book 4 of the Argonautika for fertile close readings of the inclusive and all-encompassing aesthetics that constitute Hellenistic poetry, including authentically Kemetic (“Egyptian”) voices. The Epilogue provides a roadmap for applying these analytic tools to the Latin Literature of Rome.

The aim of this qualitative study is to with the help of discourse theory according to Michel Foucault and queer theory, to define and understand how the sub discourse of regretted motherhood is communicated on online platforms in Sweden. More specifically, how the responses to women who express their regretted motherhood on online platforms take form and what communicative strategies are used. The second part of the study focuses on what characteristics define this specific taboo. The third part focuses on how normative parenthood is maintained. The material in question consists of fifteen media texts, also known as comments, from two different platforms. The first platform is Facebook where the five most liked comments were chosen from a post containing an interview with a woman who discussed why she regretted her motherhood. The second five comments were chosen from the platform Familjeliv from an anonymous post from a woman explaining how come she regretted her motherhood. The last five were also from Familjeliv that refers to a post regarding a mother who wanted to give her 3 year old up for adoption. The result from the analysis showed there is a deep incomprehension regarding what regret means and how it should be met. Subjective experiences were used as universal facts with the intention to shame the woman who regrets her motherhood. The lack of empathy resulting in shameful comments throughout the material, resulted in a wide taboo within the sub discourse dicated by normative parenthood.