Department of Sexuality Studies, San Francisco State University,San Francisco, CA 94103, USA.
J Fam Psychol. 2011 Feb;25(1):1-10. doi: 10.1037/a0022374.
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals in romantic relationships experience stigma, prejudice, and discrimination stemming from widespread social devaluation of same-sex relationships. Research on same-sex couples has demonstrated a negative association between experiences of stigma and relationship quality. However, critical questions remain unanswered regarding how experiences of stigma become more or less meaningful within the context of same-sex relationships. This paper presents a study of the stories that a purposive sample of 99 individuals in same-sex relationships wrote about their relational high points, low points, decisions, and goals, as well as their experiences of stigma directly related to their relationships. Narrative analysis of these stories revealed that participants utilized several psychological strategies for making meaning of their experiences of stigma within the context of their relationships. Some participants framed stigma as having a negative impact on their relationships, while others framed stigma as relevant, but external to their lives. Some participants saw stigma as providing an opportunity to (re)define notions of commitment and relational legitimacy. Additionally, many participants framed stigma as bringing them closer to their partners and strengthening the bond within their relationships. The results of this study illuminate the psychological strategies individuals in same-sex couples use to make meaning of, cope with, and overcome societal devaluation thereby furthering understandings of the association between stigma and intimacy within marginalized relationships.
同性恋、双性恋和双性恋个体在恋爱关系中会经历来自广泛的社会对同性关系的贬低而产生的耻辱、偏见和歧视。关于同性伴侣的研究表明，耻辱感体验与关系质量之间存在负相关。然而，关于耻辱感体验在同性关系背景下如何变得更有意义或意义更小，仍存在一些关键问题没有得到解答。本文介绍了一项研究，该研究对 99 名有特定目的的同性恋关系个体所写的关于他们关系中的高点、低点、决定和目标的故事，以及他们与关系直接相关的耻辱感体验进行了研究。对这些故事的叙述性分析表明，参与者利用了几种心理策略来在关系背景下理解自己的耻辱感体验。一些参与者将耻辱感体验视为对他们关系的负面影响，而另一些参与者则将其视为与他们的生活相关但外部的因素。一些参与者将耻辱感体验视为（重新）定义承诺和关系合法性概念的机会。此外，许多参与者将耻辱感体验视为使他们与伴侣更加亲近并加强关系中的纽带的机会。这项研究的结果阐明了同性伴侣个体用来理解、应对和克服社会贬低的心理策略，从而进一步了解边缘化关系中耻辱感与亲密感之间的关联。
