Date of Graduation

Spring 5-20-2017

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Asia Pacific Studies (MAPS)

College/School

College of Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Asia Pacific Studies

First Advisor

JOHN K. NELSON

Abstract

In modern China, although the normality of homosexuality has been officially admitted, misconception and discrimination against homosexuals are still prevalent in the mainstream of Chinese society. Chinese LGBT people endure two main sources of pressure: one is from the external and another is from the internal. From the outside, Chinese LGBT people bear the suppression made by the normality of sexual orientation and the hegemonic culture of heterosexuality, in particular heterosexual marriage. And such discrimination is still occurring now in our society. LGBT people themselves are heavily tortured by the pain and pressure of self-denial. A lot of them cannot both insist upon their rights and survive under such mental pressure, and thus choose to compromise and marry the opposite gender. Heterosexual marriage practiced by homosexuals is authorized by Chinese law, but it only has a form, or appearance of marriage. It does not have the content. It is only a paper marriage that is a tool used for some purposes. In this article, I will discuss and explore the question: how can a long-standing tradition in Chinese culture—cooperative marriage—advance the safe space, social welfare, and civic status of LGBTQ people individually in China?

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