Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality, 2024
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Resilience and Activism Among Queer Women in Pakistan
Natasha Gilani
ABSTRACT:
In Pakistan’s conservative, Islamic context, queer women face unique challenges. This study delves into their lived experiences, focusing on the covert strategies they employ for resistance and resilience while navigating multiple, intersecting identities. Given the societal compulsion to remain closeted, these strategies are crucial for their survival and self-expression. The research is anchored in queer theory and intersectionality, providing a framework to analyze the interplay between sexual orientation, cultural norms, and religious beliefs. This multidisciplinary approach is enriched by insights from South Asian studies and Islamic studies, contextualizing the specific societal backdrop of Pakistan. Employing qualitative methods, the study involves in-depth interviews with queer women across various regions of Pakistan. These narratives are examined through thematic coding, unveiling common and distinct tactics of resistance, such as coded language, symbolic gestures, and discreet community involvement. The findings reveal the nuanced ways in which these women assert their identities and foster solidarity within a restrictive societal framework. This research aims to contribute significantly to the understanding of queer identities in non-Western, conservative Islamic societies. It highlights the often-overlooked experiences of queer women in Pakistan, challenging conventional notions of activism in conservative settings. By bringing these experiences into academic discourse, the study offers vital insights for policy development and supports advocacy efforts for queer communities in similar cultural contexts. The study’s implications extend beyond academic scholarship, providing a foundation for informed policy-making and community support initiatives, thereby advocating for a more inclusive and understanding society.
keywords: queer women; covert resistance; Non-western queer identities; intersectionality; identity