Living with Stigma and Managing Sexual Identity: A Case Study on the Kotis in Dhaka

Md. Azmeary Ferdoush

University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

DOI: 10.4236/sm.2013.34034                

Abstract

Identity as a koti in Dhaka as well as in Bangladesh has always been a stigmatized one. The study aims to explore how the kotis in Dhaka manage their sexual identity and stigma attached with it. To do so eighteen kotis were selected from two areas of Dhaka and unstructured face to face in-depth interviews were conducted. The results show that the kotis in Dhaka have to face numbers of difficulties if their sexual identity is disclosed and knowing or unknowingly they have adopted the stigma management strategies identified by Goffman.

Keywords

Koti; Stigma; Identity; Dhaka; Bangladesh

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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