| Title |
Gender Variance and Sexual Orientation Among Male Spirit Mediums in Myanmar
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Archives of Sexual Behavior, March 2018
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s10508-018-1172-0 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Eli Coleman, Mariette Pathy Allen, Jessie V. Ford |
| Abstract |
This article describes the gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation of male spirit mediums in Myanmar. Our analysis is based on ethnographic work, field observation, and 10 semi-structured interviews. These observations were conducted from 2010 to 2015, mostly in Mandalay, with some fieldwork in Yangon and Bagan. The focus of this investigation was specifically on achout (gender variant individuals) who were spirit mediums (nat kadaw). Semi-structured interviews explored the ways that participants understood their gender identity, gender expression, and sexuality in relation to their work as spirit mediums and broader social life. Myanmar remains quite a homophobic and transphobic culture but is undergoing rapid economic and social change. Therefore, it provides an interesting context to study how safe spaces are produced for sexual/gender minorities amidst broader social change. We find that, through the animistic belief structure, there is a growing space for gender nonconforming people, gender variant, and same-sex-oriented individuals (achout) to neutralize their stigmatized status and attain a level of respect and economic advantage. Their ability to become nat kadaw (mediums of spirits) mitigates or trumps their stigmatized status. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 3 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 3 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 3 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 37 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 37 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 6 | 16% |
| Student > Bachelor | 3 | 8% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 2 | 5% |
| Lecturer | 2 | 5% |
| Other | 2 | 5% |
| Other | 6 | 16% |
| Unknown | 16 | 43% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 5 | 14% |
| Social Sciences | 5 | 14% |
| Arts and Humanities | 3 | 8% |
| Nursing and Health Professions | 3 | 8% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 2 | 5% |
| Other | 2 | 5% |
| Unknown | 17 | 46% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 5. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 20 October 2023.
All research outputs
#6,528,156
of 23,556,846 outputs
Outputs from Archives of Sexual Behavior
#1,908
of 3,500 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#113,499
of 332,403 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Archives of Sexual Behavior
#41
of 58 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 23,556,846 research outputs across all sources so far. This one has received more attention than most of these and is in the 72nd percentile.
So far Altmetric has tracked 3,500 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 29.9. This one is in the 45th percentile – i.e., 45% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 332,403 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 65% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 58 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 29th percentile – i.e., 29% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.