Domestic space and the performance of identity: the role of house parties in shaping sexuality and space in Cape Town.

Abstract

The public spaces of visibility and interaction within Africa’s ‘gay capital’ of Cape Town are typically associated with attractive men, beautiful beaches, amazing social events, and a lavish lifestyle. Such spaces include clubs, bars, and high-profile events – all of which have received attention from scholars. However, few studies have interrogated the experience and role of queer social spaces in Cape Town within the domestic realm. This study focuses on house parties and their role in the performance of visibility and identity in the context of Cape Town and falls under the traditional geographical theme of social interactionism as it aims to explore how domestic space is perceived and used amongst actors of a particular social milieu. Using both ethnographic and archival methods, this research draws on the history of such social gatherings in the domestic setting while also interrogating their current use as spaces of interaction. Through a deliberate focus on queer domestic spaces, this study fills a gap in the literature on sexuality and space as it aims to explore the role that domestic social spaces play in the expression of gay male identity.