Gay and bisexual men, self-perception and identity in Scotland, 1940 to 1980

Meek, Jeffrey MacGregor (2011) Gay and bisexual men, self-perception and identity in Scotland, 1940 to 1980. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Printed Thesis Information: https://eleanor.lib.gla.ac.uk/record=b2868510

Abstract

Limited legal reforms took place in England and Wales in 1967 that partially decriminalised private, adult, consensual homosexual acts. These reforms were not implemented in Scotland until 1980. This thesis documents the reasons why Scotland had to wait until 1980 to achieve legal equity with England and Wales and suggests that the combination of cultural and institutional silences regarding legal reform and an immediate valorization of the independent Scots Law system in the post-Wolfenden era hindered any moves for the 1967 legislation to be applied to Scotland. This thesis then examines the life experiences of 24 gay and bisexual males who had experience of living in Scotland during the period when all homosexual acts were outlawed. This thesis offers an examination of how continued criminalisation coupled with the influence of negative and stigmatising discourses influenced self-perception and identity formation amongst gay and bisexual men. The thesis finds that the operation and dominance of negative discourses regarding homosexuality, coupled with the limited public demand for legal reform had significant implications for the identity formation and attitudes among the gay and bisexual men who participated in this research.

Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
Qualification Level: Doctoral
Keywords: homosexuality, gay rights, Scotland, oral history
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Economics
Supervisor's Name: Gordon, Prof. Eleanor and Elliot, Dr. Rosemary
Date of Award: 2011
Depositing User: Mr Jeffrey M. Meek
Unique ID: glathesis:2011-2602
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 16 May 2011
Last Modified: 21 Aug 2018 12:15
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/2602

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