Queer Shame: Lived Experiences Of LGBTIQ+ Communities In Contemporary Mongolia [védés előtt]

Abstract

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of Mongolian queer individuals through the lens of shame, employing qualitative research methods, critical discourse analysis, and an exploratory survey. The study argues that when embraced and critically addressed through activism, knowledge production, and queer solidarity, shame can be transformed into self-acceptance and self-esteem. Central to this process is the role of power, which reinforces systems of privilege and oppression while simultaneously shaping the emotional and political terrain of queer life in Mongolia. Ultimately, shame can persist as a lifelong scar, emerge as a resolved episode through resilience, or become a site of transformation and resistance, allowing queer individuals to reclaim subjectivity on their own terms. The dissertation contributes original insights into the intersections of shame, sexuality, and national identity in the lived experiences of Mongolian queer communities.