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The Experience of Intimate Relationships Among Homosexual Men in Malaysia

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Abstract

Malaysia is relatively conservative regarding topics like sex, and, especially, research on homosexual relationships is scarce. The current study aims to understand the experience of intimate relationships among homosexual men in Malaysia using a phenomenological qualitative approach. A total of 12 participants of various ethnic backgrounds (between 21 and 35 years of age) were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling via the Malaysian-based LGBT-friendly Facebook group. Thematic analysis was applied for data analysis, and themes emerged through looking into the perception and practice of intimate relationships. The findings of the current study reflect that the hetero-normative perception of intimate relationships is common among the participants, and is compatible with the cultural norms. However, in terms of sexual practices, the findings show similarities with more liberal parts of the world, as open relationships and casual sex is common among homosexual men. Hence, open relationships are being adopted as a strategy to improve the survivability of the relationship instead of just to satisfy sexual needs. The findings highlight the lack of a frame of reference for homosexual relationships in Malaysia. The current study adds to the scarce research on homosexuality in this country, which could assist professional helpers to better understand the different dynamics and beliefs of relationships among homosexual men and the challenges they may face.

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Acknowledgement

This study was funded by International Medical University under Grant [No. BPS I-1/13 (14) 2015].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, International Medical University, Jalan Jalil Perkasa, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Jun Wei Liow, Zahra Fazli Khalaf, Nur Amanina Mohammad Ameeruddin & Andrew Foong

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  1. Jun Wei Liow
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  2. Zahra Fazli Khalaf
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  3. Nur Amanina Mohammad Ameeruddin
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  4. Andrew Foong
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Correspondence to Zahra Fazli Khalaf.

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Conflict of interest

All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Appendix

Appendix

Interview Guidelines:

  1. 1.

    How do you perceive an intimate relationship?

  2. 2.

    What are your criteria for an intimate partner? (Probe: Method to find, characteristics of ideal partner…)

  3. 3.

    What does a long-term relationship mean to you? (Probe: How important is it? Any preference?)

  4. 4.

    What are your strategies to stay in an intimate relationship?

  5. 5.

    Can you share your experiences of intimate relationships? (Probe: level of intimacy, strengths and weaknesses, faced challenges, coping with issues…)

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Liow, J.W., Fazli Khalaf, Z., Mohammad Ameeruddin, N.A. et al. The Experience of Intimate Relationships Among Homosexual Men in Malaysia. Sexuality & Culture 21, 1140–1156 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-017-9442-x

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