Internalised gay ageism: an exploratory qualitative study of minority stressors in urban Mumbai

Abstract

Middle-aged and older queer men are socially invisible across the world, especially in countries with a long history of criminalisation of homosexuality, such as India. The heteronormative society they grew up in and the perceived ageist gay culture within the queer community have contributed to the development of two stressors—internalised homophobia and internalised ageism, respectively—as adapted from Meyer’s minority stress model. However, the convergence of the two minority stressors can potentially affect the psychological well-being of individuals uniquely and is under-researched. Using in-depth interviews with 30 middle-aged to older gay men in urban Mumbai, India, the study contextualised this merged minority stressor in India—internalised gay ageism. Thematic analysis revealed three themes that discussed the social triggers leading to internalised homophobia, perceptions about ageism, and the development of internalised gay ageism among the participants. While participants presented with internalised homophobia and internalised ageism separately, the narratives also indicated the prevalence of internalised gay ageism, which likely influenced their late-life decision-making. By questioning the intersection of different minority stressors, this study underscores the need to understand further the complex impact of ageing on the psychological well-being of queer men in India.