Bounded Nonnormativity of Heterosexuality: Gendered Sex Partying in Hong Kong

Despite queer theory’s intention to critically analyze the institution of heterosexuality, how heterosexual men and women are differently constrained by normativity—or potentially rupture it—is underexplored. Through an ethnography of sex partying, I integrate queer and feminist perspectives to exam...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gender & society 2024-02, Vol.38 (1), p.7-32
Main Author: Tsui, Pamela P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ethnography
Feminism
Heterosexuality
Manhood
Monogamy
Queer theory
Sexuality
Womanhood
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Summary:Despite queer theory’s intention to critically analyze the institution of heterosexuality, how heterosexual men and women are differently constrained by normativity—or potentially rupture it—is underexplored. Through an ethnography of sex partying, I integrate queer and feminist perspectives to examine how people navigate and cope with institutionalized heterosexuality and compulsory monogamy. This study finds a contradictory relationship between sex partygoers and normativity: They embrace the ideal of straight manhood and womanhood but simultaneously feel constrained by and desire to transgress it. Therefore, the bounded nonnormativity of sex partying, which allows the compartmentalization of normative and nonnormative desires, is instrumental in helping them cope with the contradiction. This paper contributes to gendering transnational queer sociology by highlighting the distinct experiences of men and women in relation to the regime of normalcy in Hong Kong.
ISSN:0891-2432
1552-3977
DOI:10.1177/08912432231207046