Social Construction of Gender Roles and Identity Formation Among Gender Non Conformers A Sociological Study of LGBT in Delhi City

Abstract

Identity is one of the most important aspects of our existence since it gives us a locus to define ourself to the world. Gender is the most personal yet societally determined identity of an individual which is shaped directly or indirectly through socialization process. This study is a serious attempt to analyze the social construction of gender/sexual identity among the most vulnerable minority of LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender) people. LGBT people are Infact represented by a colorful rainbow with limitless possibilities and has reached a cult status by having more and more people coming in support. LGBT activists advocate for equal rights, legal recognition, non-discrimination and equal opportunities for their people to bring them into mainstream as a form of variation and not as a social deviation. newlineHomosexual or transgender behaviour was earlier associated with psychological disturbances and were even treated as a mental illness. People had a limited and very stereotyped understanding of LGBT community where it was common to confuse various LGBT identities with another. But constant agitation and struggle for LGBT identity and somewhat unbiased representation of them in media in past few years has pushed their envelope and helped them reach general public. newlineThis study is based in Delhi being a cosmopolitan national capital with modern outlook surrounded by traditional values in neighboring cities of NCR. It has tried to touch most of the strings of LGBT community and their identity formation at different stages of life focusing on their dilemmas, challenges, and coping mechanisms to repel stigma, hate, hostilities, and insecurities in life. LGBT identity is a combination of multiple identities which differ from one another in technicalities and characteristics. And hence this research has made an attempt to give a comparative understanding of various identities and also studied each identity in detail to understand why one has different challenges from the other. The study envisages a comprehensive understanding of LGBT life through a descriptive and exploratory design for which a sample of 320 subjects of LGBT community were interviewed thoroughly. This empirical knowledge was than analysed to reach meaningful findings and conclusions. newline newline