Queering Conflict offers a unique culturally specific analysis into the ways in which homophobia in Northern Ireland has been informed and sustained during the latter half of the twentieth century. This book takes the failure of the British Government to extend the 1967 Sexual Offences Act to Northern Ireland as its central point to demonstrate the subtle, but important, differences governing attitudes towards homosexuality in Northern Ireland.
Both homophobia and hate crimes are shown to be situated within the framework of Northern Ireland's socio-political history as well as part of an overall culture of violence which existed as a result of 'the Troubles'. Duggan shows how the influence of moral and religious conservatism born out of sectarian divisions led to homophobia becoming an integral part of community cohesion and identity formation. Decades of political instability led to the marginalization of rights for lesbians and gay men, but the peace process has led to the development of a discourse of equality which is slowly allowing sexual minorities to situate themselves within the new Northern Ireland.
Contents: Introduction; Contextualising prejudice and 'hate' in Northern Ireland; Constructing 'acceptable victims': violence, regulation and resistance; Playing sexual politics: overcoming criminalisation, conflict and condemnation; The moral maze: negotiating sexual and spiritual selves; A woman's worth: lesbian lives in Northern Ireland; 'Experiencing 'rebirth': surviving sexual disallowance; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.
About the Author: Marian Duggan, Lecturer in Criminology, Department of Law, Criminology and Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield, UK
Reviews: 'Queering Conflict provides a fascinating glimpse into the unique cultural circumstances and history of homophobia and hate crime in Northern Ireland. Rich in documentary material, and enriched by the voices of those with first hand experience, this book provides fresh insights into a society characterised both by traditional moral conservatism but also the quest for rights and liberation.'
Carl F. Stychin, University of Reading, UK
'This is a fascinating and timely account. Rich in theoretical, historical and methodological insight, Marian Duggan's analysis unpicks the socio-political and cultural context of homophobic prejudice in Northern Ireland, and in doing so makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the victimisation suffered by LGB&T communities and the challenges in developing lasting change.'
Neil Chakraborti, University of Leicester, UK
This title is also available as an ebook, ISBN 978-1-4094-2017-0
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Full contents list
Introduction
Index