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Framing 'Chemsexism': Chinese Gay Men Navigating Stigma and Labelling
1School of Law, Society, and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Justice, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
Journal of Homosexuality
|April 25, 2025
Summary
Chinese gay men counter-stigmatizing narratives address layered disadvantages from chemsex (sexual activity involving drug use). They challenge power structures, advocating for sexual liberation and respect within dominant hierarchies.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Chemsex intersects with multiple stigmas in the gay community, particularly in China, leading to marginalization.
- Limited understanding exists regarding how individuals manage stigmatizing stress in contexts of multiple stigmas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how Chinese gay men construct counter-narratives to manage stigma related to chemsex.
- To understand how these narratives reposition individuals within intersecting hierarchies of heterosexuality and drug prohibition.
Main Methods:
- Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with Chinese gay men.
- A process-oriented understanding of addiction stigma was applied.
Main Results:
- Participants constructed counter-narratives that repositioned them beyond personal justifications for chemsex.
- These narratives viewed stigma as a structural product marginalizing homosexuality and drug use, seeking equal recognition.
- Gay men advocated for chemsex as sexual liberation, challenging heterosexual norms and critiquing normalization processes.
Conclusions:
- The study conceptualizes this practice as "Chemsexism," emphasizing a participant-centered perspective and life affirmation.
- Findings highlight gay men's efforts to legitimize sexual practices and assert self-respect against dominant power structures.
- Further regional exploration using the "Chemsexism" framework is recommended.
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