Where to Belong: Being a Sexual and Ethnic Minority Group Member in Norway

Norway is perceived as an egalitarian society, providing freedom for diverse minority groups to live their lives without facing discriminatory practices. However, the lived experiences of groups who simultaneously occupy multiple minority positions might be testimony to the complex ways a society enables or hinders identity formation. Taking an intersectional approach and drawing upon in-depth, semi-structured interviews with nine queer individuals with an ethnic minority background, we explored how they negotiate where they belong, relating to social and structural elements of Norwegian society. We also examined how having multiple minority positions may affect belonging to a collective where they are or are not problematized. We developed five themes from the participants' interviews: 1) exclusion based on being visibly different, 2) having to explain oneself, 3) struggling with heteronormativity, 4) non-acceptance by family and ethnic ingroup, and 5) majority queer community as a place of exclusion. Our analysis underlines the potentially dilemmatic 'nature' of having multiple minority identities. Dealing with both majority's expectations and demands and tackling the norms and demands of family and ethnic ingroup is construed as a problem by our participants. We detail and discuss the ways in which our participants experience and relate to majority culture, racism, and heteronormativity.

Automated summary

Norway is seen as an egalitarian society, but individuals who occupy multiple minority positions may face challenges in their identity formation due to social and structural elements. Through interviews with nine queer individuals with an ethnic minority background, we identified themes such as exclusion based on appearance, the need to explain oneself, struggles with heteronormativity, non-acceptance by family and ethnic group, and exclusion from the majority queer community. Our analysis highlights the dilemmas faced by those with multiple minority identities and their experiences with majority culture, racism, and heteronormativity.