User:OsaRosa/9. LGBTQ Intercultural and International Communication

Areas of LGBTQ+ Communication Studies
''No content needed here. This is just a reminder of it going under that major header on the final page.''

LGBTQ+ Intercultural and International Communication
Still needs to link to both the Intercultural Communication wiki and to International Communication wiki.

LGBTQ+ individuals exist throughout all cultures and countries. LGBTQ+ Intercultural communication and International communication highlights the differences and similarities between cultures, international LGBTQ+ communication theories, and how migration and immigration affects queer and trans individuals globally. LGBTQ+ intercultural communication studies look specifically at the culture and social impact that LGBTQ+ individuals experience while LGBTQ+ international communication studies look at the differences that LGBTQ+ individuals experience based on their geographic region.

LGBTQ+ Migration and Immigration Communication
Communication researchers have analyzed how immigrants in the United States are often shown in a poor light, being painted as criminals and a threat to nationality due to the media representation on immigration. In addition to the media representation of immigrants being one sided, giving only a certain view of undocumented individuals, as a whole, immigration is underrepresented in the media. Queer undocumented individuals face an intersectional (overlapping discrimination based on different identities) type of discrimination. While navigating their new lives in a new country, they are also facing discrimination based on their sexuality or gender. Even in countries with more accepting views towards the LGBTQ+ community, the life of a queer migrant is still difficult to navigate. The culture of LGBTQ+ individuals differs regionally and internationally which is an added stressor to queer migration.

Communication scholarship that has examined countries such as the Netherlands, where LGBTQ+ rights are prevalent, navigating life as a queer immigrant continues to be a psychologically strenuous journey. Queer migrants communicate stressors including seeking asylum, their uncertain futures in their new country, and cultural differences entering a new country. The addition of being LGBTQ+ adds another stressor to the individuals, migrants may fear for their safety or eligibility for asylum if it is discovered they are queer. Qualitative research reveals that many queer individuals also have residual fear or anxieties about their sexuality due to the way they were treated in their country of origin.

Scholars have explored the migration of LGBTQ+ individuals and how they navigate family communication, support, and negative media attention. Research has also examined how LGBTQ+ migrants communicate with their families when they migrate. There has been an increase in LGBTQ+ individuals moving to South Africa due to the country's constitutional promises of nondiscrimination on gender or sexual orientation, along with job prospects. Relatives in South Africa, as well as ones in their homeland, can offer essential emotional support and assistance post-migration. Many undocumented LGBTQ immigrants do not have family that are either permanent residents or US citizens. Rhetoric scholars have examined how rhetoric of the family is used in immigration rights and justice campaigns, and they argue that the mainstream media’s focus on family, relationships and norms are harmful to migrants, especially more vulnerable ones like the LGBTQ+ community.

Queer African Communication Studies
LGBTQ+ individuals across many countries in Africa experience discrimination and cultural backlash for their identities. Communication studies researchers have explored how the traditional beliefs in Africa value male and female relationships, therefore queer relationships take away from their cultural norms, creating discourse about LGBTQ+ identities.

In Ghana, researchers have studied the heavy discourse about the existence of LGBTQ+ identities and their acceptance in society. According to research on Ghana and queer communication studies, the existence of queer individuals is often followed by anti LGBTQ+ sentiments, such as threats of violence and blackmail. Some same sex loving men in Ghana refuse to identify with the LGBTQ+ community due to the stigma surrounding the word "gay". Instead, the same sex loving men in Ghana use the term "Sassoi" which means men that have relationships with other men. The Sassoi men in Ghana challenge heteronormativity and U.S LGBTQ+ identities by refusing to come out and put labels on their sexuality. Research found that these men often face communication issues in healthcare settings where they are reluctant to tell providers that they engage in sexual activity with other men.

Similar to Ghana, communication researchers studying how groups in Kenya commonly hold misconceptions about the LGBTQ+ community. Cultural myths and folk tales cause individuals to fear and dislike the LGBTQ+ community. The presence of the church in Kenya often further enforces the general discourse over LGBTQ+ identities in Kenya. Scholars found that church leaders commonly communicate the cultural myths about the LGBTQ+ community, further driving the already common fear and dislike towards the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya.

Queer Asian Communication Studies
Queer communication studies in Asia bring in aspects of international communication and intercultural communication, focusing on the different cultural norms in Asia surrounding the queer community and the experience of LGBTQ+ individuals based on their physical country. In Queer Asian communication studies, scholars look at the impact that western counties have on LGBTQ+ individuals in Asia. The western and white view of queer existence in Asia impacts the Asian LGBTQ+ demographic by enforcing their views on what queer individuals in Asia should be.

Communication research has investigated norms for queer men in Tokyo to be perceived as more feminine than western individuals, feminizing the queer community in Tokyo. Asian queer individuals also face pressure from western societies through the idea of coming out. In China, researchers examined the traditional valuing of heterosexual male and female relationships, which can make coming out difficult for queer individuals. They also found that gay and lesbian Chinese people focused on their connection to their families and resisted the western norms of "coming out" treated as a necessity can harm Chinese queer individuals by applying pressure for them to choose between their family and their identity.