EXPRESSION OF SEXUALITY AND LIFESTYLE IN SINGAPORE AND BANGKOK : A CASE STUDY OF SINGAPOREAN HOMOSEXUAL MEN

Sammanfattning: This thesis discusses the expression of sexuality and lifestyle among Singaporean homosexual men in the context of Singapore and Bangkok respectively. The objective of this research was not to generalize the pattern of the expression but to provide examples from individual cases. There were in total 13 Singaporean and Thai interviewees included in this research. These interviewees consisted of 7 Singaporean male homosexual respondents, 6 informants- 3 Thai masculine men, 2 Thai homosexual men and one feminine Thai woman. I utilized the performativity theory as a framework and negotiation of sexuality as a concept of analysis to comprehend the expression of sexual identities of homosexual men from Singapore. Based on findings, the research concludes that the homosexual identities varied according to the sexual context. In Singapore it was performed in specific gay spaces in regard to strict heterosexual norms. In contrast, it was not performed in the public and family area. However, they can negotiate their sexual identities in the family and some public places with their financial support role. In Bangkok, Singaporean homosexual men openly performed sexual identities in relation to the tourism and over commercialized context. Moreover the power of being kaek, tourist and foreigner strengthened their confidence to negotiate and perform the overt sexual identities both in specific gay spaces and in public places.