My Research Thesis
My M.A for Equality Studies gives the option of taught modules or to design a research thesis. The common word on the street is “DONT DO IT!!!”. Something however is telling me that doing research on a topic of my own original topic would be extremely rewarding. As I get ideas and plans for this Thesis I have decided that I will post details on my blog.
1. My M.A is in Equality Studies and although I havnt begun my course a topic that has always been of interest to me is homosexuality, party because of my own experiences growing up gay. A topic within this category that I have thought about is “Homophobia within Homosexuality”. When a person decides that he/she is ready to be true to themselves they come clean about their sexuality. Today, with more liberal cultures evolving from our globalized world people are more comfortable expressing themselves in ways they may not have felt safe in doing so before. This is not the case everywhere in our world but a lot in the developed countries around the world. With people more comfortable expressing their sexuality be it through their clothing or their speech, a general stereotype emerges. For example, keywords that may come to ones mind when they think of Lesbian or Gay is Butch and Camp. These terms have established themselves over the last decade. It is these images that people have frowned upon, simply because they are “different”.
In response to this young people who are gay may be afraid to come out because they dont want to be seen in this negative light. In 2nd Year Social Policy at University I read an article on a student from Oregon University in the U.S.A. I read about a student who studied Media and Film Studies. This student, whose name slips my mind at the moment decided to integrate his studies on “Queer theory” into is course. He produced some media images of the Gay community which provoked and outcry in the local community. In response to his production a parents committee formed to oppose his work. They wanted to the State to eradicate tolerance of homosexuality. Their campaign also resorted to the Media in evoking the “seedy” and “grotty” side of the Gay community. This included images of Gay pride rallies around the world depicting grown men in leather and possessing whips.
In Oregon University the Gay community counteracted this carfeully edited anti-gay production, by producing their own “carefully edited” production of the “good homosexual” who goes to work like any other gay man and returns to conduct his chosen relationship in the privacy of his own home. This was an attempt to distance the stereotype from the person. This however, is a lie, and is a one dimensional image of a persons identity.
James, ( who I name for the purpose of this topic) in response to both the Anti and Pro Gay campaigns, decided to take an equal rights based approach when it came to his cause. This portrayed human nature to the world, a human nature that is varied and dynamic, a human nature of different colours and shades. A diverse world of creation. Everyone is different.
My first idea is related to people who come out of the closet and distance themselves from the stereotype. So much so that they begin to resent the stereotype. This is where my topic “Homophobia in Homosexuality” comes in to the frame. I want to study peoples experiences with coming out and study their perceptions on why they felt it difficult to come to terms and tell their parents. Was it because they were aware of their parents’ resentment of such “practices” as depicted on main stream Media. My Aim would be to compile the different experiences and relate them to social policies of nations around the world. Then, in response to James’ rights based approach, I would look at other marginalsed groups arund the world and see how they compare to the gay community.
If anybody has any advice on this topic id be grateful! 
Joey
