{"title":"The experiences of gay and lesbian first-generation immigrants to Canada: Negotiating identities post-migration","authors":"Melisa Choubak, Hajar Soltan, Saba Safdar","doi":"10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102242","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study explored the experiences of gay and lesbian first-generation immigrants to Canada by conducting semi-structured interviews with 10 participants and employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The focus was on the negotiation of sexual identity and other central identities post-immigration in the context of diverse and, at times, contrasting cultural influences and social affiliations. Psychological literature on sexual minority first-generation migrants is rare, especially within the Canadian research terrain. Participants provided rich discourse around four main themes: (A) Changes and acceptance of sexual identity post-immigration, (B) Intrapersonal negotiation of sexuality with cultural values and ethnic identities, (C) Interpersonal negotiation of sexuality across cultural boundaries, and (D) Post-immigration reflection and resilience. The findings highlight the crucial role of Canadian LGBTQ+ rights and communal spaces in solidifying sexual identity, particularly for individuals from countries with anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The study also importantly addresses the ongoing stigmatization participants face in Canada, both from their ethnic or national communities and from Western LGBTQ+ communities, emphasizing the complex and multifaceted nature of their otherization. The study expands existing frameworks by providing a holistic view of the participants' challenges and offers insight for improving support systems within the Canadian context.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Intercultural Relations","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102242"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Intercultural Relations","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147176725001051","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The present study explored the experiences of gay and lesbian first-generation immigrants to Canada by conducting semi-structured interviews with 10 participants and employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The focus was on the negotiation of sexual identity and other central identities post-immigration in the context of diverse and, at times, contrasting cultural influences and social affiliations. Psychological literature on sexual minority first-generation migrants is rare, especially within the Canadian research terrain. Participants provided rich discourse around four main themes: (A) Changes and acceptance of sexual identity post-immigration, (B) Intrapersonal negotiation of sexuality with cultural values and ethnic identities, (C) Interpersonal negotiation of sexuality across cultural boundaries, and (D) Post-immigration reflection and resilience. The findings highlight the crucial role of Canadian LGBTQ+ rights and communal spaces in solidifying sexual identity, particularly for individuals from countries with anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The study also importantly addresses the ongoing stigmatization participants face in Canada, both from their ethnic or national communities and from Western LGBTQ+ communities, emphasizing the complex and multifaceted nature of their otherization. The study expands existing frameworks by providing a holistic view of the participants' challenges and offers insight for improving support systems within the Canadian context.
期刊介绍:
IJIR is dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of theory, practice, and research in intergroup relations. The contents encompass theoretical developments, field-based evaluations of training techniques, empirical discussions of cultural similarities and differences, and critical descriptions of new training approaches. Papers selected for publication in IJIR are judged to increase our understanding of intergroup tensions and harmony. Issue-oriented and cross-discipline discussion is encouraged. The highest priority is given to manuscripts that join theory, practice, and field research design. By theory, we mean conceptual schemes focused on the nature of cultural differences and similarities.