Understanding the Intersection of Race and Sexuality through Shame and Pride: A Qualitative Study with Sexual Minority Adolescents

Abstract

Shame and pride are the primary emotions experienced due to salient social identities (Tracy, 2016). Previous research suggests shame is associated with negative well-being among sexual minority adolescents (SMAs); while pride is associated with positive well-being (McDermott, 2015; Woodford et al., 2014). However, no research has studied how feelings of shame and pride emerge from the intersection of having a sexual and racial minority identity. Sexual minority adolescents of color filter perceptions of their sexual identity through their racial lens, which may contribute to feelings of shame. Participants engaged in strategies to protect against feelings of shame by disconnecting from their racial identity, balancing their racial identity with their sexual minority identity, and cultivating deeper connections to their sexual minority identity.