Erving Goffman's seminal theorization of stigma is at the heart of social scientific conceptualizations of identity management. Using data from qualitative interviews with queer South Asian women in Canada, this article proposes revisions of Goffman's Stigma theory. Intervening his supposition of acceptance and hostility as the two possible reactions to stigma revelation, I establish denial as an additional reaction to identity disclosure. A denial reaction has four key characteristics: (1) resistance to queer sexuality, (2) prescriptive enforcement of heterosexuality, (3) refusal to accept lesbian relationships, and (4) avoidance of conversation about queerness. I argue that disclosure to parents does not always translate to outness; rather, it can force the individual back into the closet. I refer to this non‐linear process as the culturally expansive closet. The article presents a sexual identity management process model that accounts for these culturally collectivist experiences. The results are significant for rethinking and affirming non‐Western ways of managing stigmatized identities.

中文翻译：

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理论化对出柜的否认反应：通过性别认同过程模型修正戈夫曼的耻辱


欧文·戈夫曼关于耻辱的开创性理论是身份管理的社会科学概念化的核心。本文利用对加拿大南亚酷儿女性的定性访谈数据，提出了对戈夫曼的耻辱理论的修订。介入他对接受和敌意作为对耻辱揭露的两种可能反应的假设，我将否认确立为对身份披露的额外反应。否认反应有四个关键特征：（1）抵制酷儿性行为，（2）强制执行异性恋，（3）拒绝接受女同性恋关系，以及（4）避免谈论酷儿性。我认为，向父母透露信息并不总是意味着公开；相反，它可能会迫使个人重新隐藏起来。我将这种非线性过程称为文化扩张壁橱。本文提出了一个性别认同管理流程模型，该模型解释了这些文化集体主义经历。研究结果对于重新思考和肯定管理污名化身份的非西方方式具有重要意义。