The negotiation of romantic relationships amongst gay male students in a Western Cape university

Abstract

Narratives of romantic relationships are intrinsically connected to the social context in which they develop. Forming relationships and embracing intimacy can be complex for gay male students in spaces that censure same-sex sexual identities and gender diversity. The aim of this study was to enquire on the narratives of gay male university students’ negotiation of romantic relationships within a Western Cape university space. The study’s objectives were to understand this negotiation by exploring these students’ social interactions and the social scripts that are related to same-sex sexuality and intimacy within the university space.