Intersectional identities and dilemmas in interactions with healthcare professionals: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of British Muslim gay men

Cult Health Sex. 2018 Sep;20(9):1023-1035. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2017.1411526. Epub 2017 Dec 22.

Abstract

Individual interviews were conducted with six self-identified Muslim gay men living in London focusing on their experience of health service use. Transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Analysis identified two major themes: the close(d) community and self-management with healthcare professionals, detailing participants' concerns regarding the risks of disclosing sexuality; and the authentic identity - 'you're either a Muslim or you're gay, you can't be both' - which delineated notions of incommensurate identity. Analysis highlights the need for health practitioners to have insight into the complexity of intersectional identities, identity disclosure dynamics and the negative consequences of assumptions made, be these heteronormative or faith-related.

Keywords: Health inequalities; Muslim; gay men; identity; interpretative phenomenological analysis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Disclosure*
  • Health Personnel*
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Humans
  • Islam*
  • London
  • Male
  • Professional-Patient Relations*
  • Qualitative Research
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities*
  • Social Identification*
  • Young Adult