Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Post-Movie Subliminal Measurement PMSM, for Investigating Implicit Social Bias
Published on: February 29, 2020
The Invisible Work of Closeting: A Qualitative Study About Strategies Used by Lesbian and Gay Persons to Conceal
Kirsti Malterud1,2,3, Mari Bjorkman1
1a Research Unit for General Practice , Uni Research Health , Bergen , Norway.
Abstract:
The last decades have offered substantial improvement regarding human rights for lesbian and gay (LG) persons. Yet LG persons are often in the closet, concealing their sexual orientation. We present a qualitative study based on 182 histories submitted from 161 LG individuals to a Web site. The aim was to explore experiences of closeting among LG persons in Norway. A broad range of strategies was used for closeting, even among individuals who generally considered themselves to be out of the closet. Concealment was enacted by blunt denial, clever avoidance, or subtle vagueness. Other strategies included changing or eliminating the pronoun or name of the partner in ongoing conversations. Context-dependent concealment, differentiating between persons, situations, or arenas, was repeatedly applied for security or convenience. We propose a shift from "being in the closet" to "situated concealment of sexual orientation."
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Strategies of Self-Presentation I: Strategic Self-Presentation
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Strategies of Self-Presentation II: Self-Verification
Strategies of Self-Presentation III: Self-Monitoring
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Surveys

