CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 Chapter III

Research Methodology

3.1 Introduction

Sexuality is a vast and complex area to comprehend. It is a central aspect of

being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual
orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced
and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours,
practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions,
not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the
interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical,
legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors (WHO). There are innumerable of
misconceptions, myths and misunderstandings about sexuality. People’s knowledge
about sexuality is limited. There is a brisk relationship between several aspects of
human life and man’s/woman’s sexuality. It is, therefore, essential to understand the
complex forms of sexuality, which has its impact on social structure, human
interaction, human relations and social institutions.

Homosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by sexual attraction or

romantic love exclusively for people who are identified as being of the same sex
(Parasar, 2007). It is part of human sexual life both during past and present. But
different societies and cultures viewed it from different perspectives. In Indian
context, homosexuality has been in existence since ancient times. This researcher has
come across instances in epics, puranas, jathaka stories, literature of the ancient,
medieval times as sources of evidence. There is a blend of positive and negative
responses towards homosexuality in the history of Indian sub continent. In the
Ramayana, Mahabharata and Jathaka stories homosexuals or transgenders were
treated humanely, whereas in Manusmrithi homosexuality was considered a severely
punishable crime. Vanitha & Kidwai (2000) write that intimacy between same sex is
very common in Indian society.

Individuals are categorized as homosexuals, heterosexuals and bisexuals

based on their sexual orientation. Male homosexuals are identified by different names
in different societies and cultures. In western countries male homosexuals are

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identified as ‘gays’, in Native American cultures they are identified as ‘Bedrache’,
‘two spirit people’ etc. In South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and
Srilanka there are different words in use to identify male homosexuals such as kothi,
panthi, double decker, ali, hijra, arvani etc based on their gender expression and role
taken in sexual activity. Among these words, some of them are considered derogatory
in nature.

Homosexuality is not accepted positively in the present social milieu. As

masculinity and femininity are glorified in the present situation, homosexual feelings
are looked down upon as perverse, abnormal, anti-cultural, antisocial, foreign, etc.,

From childhood till death they have to face different types of problems. They
get confused about their gender identity in childhood. They exhibit feminine
characteristics. Owing to that they are subjected to humiliation and harsh treatment by
others. Such actions emanate from beloved and intimate social settings, that is,
family. They undergo such experiences of torture even from their parents and
brothers. They exert enormous pressure on such individuals to behave like males.
Unable to cope up with pressure, many of them run away from home. At school they
become an object of ridicule for their classmates. Teachers insult them in classes and
many undergo the instances of sexual abuse by teachers. They can’t concentrate on
studies. Some of them stop education at this stage. They face numerous problems in
their life due to their sexual identity.

Since there is stigma on homosexuality, people who involve in homosexual

relations feel guilt and they do not have access to information and education about
homosexuality and health problems. Health professionals also lack adequate
information about health problems of homosexuals. This further aggravates the
problem.

3.2 Formulation of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to investigate the issues of identity and the
problems of male homosexuals in Dharwad District of Karnataka. Homosexuals are
considered to be one of the sexual minorities. They are highly vulnerable in all
aspects. Society does not accept homosexual orientation. They are not generally
accepted in societies cutting across nations, as homosexuality is viewed as deviant.

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Homosexuality, therefore, becomes an aberration in most of the societies. It makes
homosexual’s life more pathetic. Social norms and values in general are gender
biased; that is to say they are favourably inclined towards males, masculinity and
heterosexuality. Homosexuals are naturally subject to prejudice and discrimination. It
is difficult for them to disclose their identity. It is their inability to disclose their
sexuality on the one hand and on the other hand, their vital need to express their
sexuality, is as essential as other organic needs such as having food and water, which
makes them highly vulnerable.

Homosexuals are facing a variety of problems in society due to their sexual

orientation. From childhood to old age they have to face lots of problems in their life.
As per their own expressions, in their childhood usually they behave like female
children in their interests, clothing, in performing house hold work and they like the
companionship of girls. Family members, relatives make fun of them for their
feminine characteristics. In their teenage, friends, classmates and sometimes teachers
abuse them both psychologically and sexually. They are targeted for mistreatment
ranging from not being included in people's circle of friends, to cold shouldering,
snide comments, verbal harassment, assault, rape, and even murder due to their
(perceived) sexual identity. Family members do not know about their sexuality and
when they do come to know they put pressure on them to consent to for heterosexual
marriage. Many of them usually feel like committing suicide at this moment.
Problems continue after marriage and eventually resulting in breaking the marriage.
Under such pressures they have to manage with dual identities. Homosexuals give
consent to heterosexual marriage for the sake of psychological protection from the
stigma of being ‘unnatural’ rather than as a privilege. As long as societies remain
homophobic many people pretend to be exclusively heterosexual while leading
double lives (Vanitha, 2005).

Male homosexuals experience several problems in relation to their occupation.

Because of their femininity, it is difficult for them to do hard work whereas society
considers them as males. It expects masculine roles from them in place of work.
When they are not able to fulfill the expectations they are usually terminated from
jobs. Besides, they also face sexual harassment in their place of work.

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 Studies say that unprotected anal sex of homosexuals is a very risky sexual
activity for HIV transmission. It can be transmitted in 30 to 200 contacts, whereas
among male to female unprotected vaginal sex it is between 500 to 2000 sexual
contacts. But many of them are not aware of this fact. Even condom usage is very
meager as most of the time sexual act itself is not considered as sexual act but just a
play. Homosexuals hardly ever go for treatment for their sexual problems or sexually
transmitted infections due to shyness, fear of disclosure of their identity, guilt of their
sexual identity etc. They have psychological problems which are due to the perplexity
in their identity. Usually male homosexuals face rejection, isolation, loneliness,
depression, self destructive behavior and suicidal tendency.

Stigmatization around feminization produces a range of problems which are

clearly human rights violations such as blackmail, violence, and male-on-male rape
by local men and police. Other than that the recipients of penetration often undergo
sexual violence like group rape, kidnap, physical torture and are forced to perform
violent sexual activity. Section 377 of Indian Penal Section (IPC) 1860 considers the
non-vaginal sexual intercourse as an offence, which was recently amended in the
month of July 2009.

Historians have shown that urban cultures are more hospitable to same sex
relationships as life choices, and to the development of networks among those who
make these choices. Modern homosexual culture flourishes in cities, where many
people enjoy greater anonymity and freedom from family pressure. But it is little
difficult for homosexuals who are in rural areas to enjoy and express their sexuality.
This dual identity may land them into greater risk in health issues and also in human
right violation.

The present study attempts to investigate the above issues. It intends to

addresses all these dimensions of personal and social life of male homosexuals from
the social work perspective.

3.3 Scope & Significance of the Study

The present study focuses on the area of sexuality. Sexuality is the core aspect
of humankind. It is the matter of existence. Sexuality is a very complex concept to
understand and therefore it has been differently understood by different societies and

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scholars at different times. There is a close relationship between sexuality and social,
economic and political aspects of human life. Family, gender, process of
development, polity is connected with sexuality. Sexuality and gender are intimately
connected. Sex is a biological concept where as sexuality and gender are social
constructions. Hierarchical arrangement of individuals on the lines of caste, class,
gender and sexuality and prejudices and discrimination accompanied with such
identities act as hurdle for human development.

Sexuality matters for development as it is related to people. Unless sexuality

is considered as a ‘construction’, it is not possible to address the issues which come
under the umbrella of sexuality. Redefining sexuality as a constructed identity is,
therefore, considered to be a pressing need. Understanding sexuality on social
constructionist perspective will lend a humane dimension to it and readdresses the
issues of socio-economic development.

Heterosexuality is accepted as a norm in society and has been bestowed with

institutional sanctity. Sexual identity other than heterosexuality is ignored, denied and
camouflaged in the society though the medical and social sciences have established
the fact that the other sexualities are as normal as heterosexuality. Whereas silence,
lack of knowledge, misconceptions about sexuality and lack of studies in the area of
sexuality have contributed to misunderstandings among people about other
sexualities. Reverberations of such misunderstandings are manifested in the form of
prejudices and discrimination. When the acts of discrimination are not checked by our
norms, values and formal social control methods, they will lead to violence.
Prejudice, discrimination and violence relegate sexual minorities to the margin of
society.

Status of women, children, the aged, tribes, and other marginalized groups
such as minority groups based on such identities as religious, linguistic, sexuality,
ethnicity serve as measuring rod in evaluating the development of any nation. People
undergoing socio-economic-legal problems, psychological deprivations and violation
of human rights for their sexual identity is really alarming and detrimental to
development of individuals and society as a whole.

Homosexuals live with dual identities. Their homosexuality is expressed

under a mask and they are helpless to express themselves in situations; ignorant of

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proper channels to affirm themselves. Their troubles assume further severity with
other issues like violence, abuse, torture, threaten their existence. Though the urban
environment permits to an extent for their expressions, but in rural areas where the
life is community centered and individual desires and aspirations are not given
importance, they have to struggle to assert their identity. An attempt has been made to
explore the problems that they are undergoing in their lives.

3.4 Place of the study

Dharwad district is one of the districts of Karnataka geographically situated in

the north west of Karnataka. Hubli and Dharwad are twin cities of Dharwad district.
Hubli is the main trading centre for agriculture produce. There are several cotton
spinning and ginning mills in this city. Farmers not only from Karnataka, but also
from neighbouring states come here to sell cotton here.

Dharwad District Map

(Source- http://www.dharwad.nic.in/dwd_dist.jpg)

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 The word "Dharwad" means a ‘place of rest’ in a long travel or ‘a small
habitation’. For centuries, Dharwad acted as a gateway between the (Malenadu area
covered by forest and mountains) region and the plains, and it became a resting place
for travellers. The name is etymologically derived from Sanskrit word 'dwarawata;
'dwara' meaning "door" and 'wata' or 'wada' meaning "town". The eminent
personalities who bring more name and fame to Dharwad are noted literary person
and Jnanapeeth awardee Da.Ra.bendre, educationist D. C. Pavate, K.S.Amur,
G.S.Amur, Venkanna H Naik, Gangubai Hangal, Pandit Mallikarjun Mansoor,
Panchakshari Gavai, Pandit Puttaraja Gavai, Pandit Sawai Gandarva, Pandit
Basavaraj Rajguru, Pandit Kumar Gandarva, Pandit Arjunsa Nakod, Pandit Bhimsen
Joshi, Girish karnad, Suresh Heblikar, R.C.Hiremath and others.

Marathi was an influential language in Dharwad until the middle of 19th

century. Even Marathi schools also existed then. Marathi and English were used in
Government offices and courts of law. The language of the soil, therefore, suffered a
great setback. Some great veterans of Karnataka and the champions of Kannada such
as like Deputy Collector Chennabasappa, Artal Rudragouda, Rodda Shrinivas Rao,
Sir Siddappa Kambli, Sakkari Balacharya, R.H. Deshpande, Alur VenkatRao, Kadapa
Raghavendra Rao, Sali Ramachandra Rao and others devoted their life to restore
Kannada as a language of soil by founding schools and colleges, imparting education
in Kannada as a medium. Today Dharwad is an integral part of Karnataka with
Kannada as principal and administrative language. Influence of Urdu and Marathi on
Kannada language and culture of people is even today felt. Karnatak University in
Dharwad is one of the older universities in Karnataka along with University of
Mysore. If the latter expanded the horizon of knowledge in south Karnataka, the
former quenched the people’s thirst for education in the entire north Karnataka once.

According to the 2011 census Dharwad district has a population of 1,846,993.

Dharwad has a sex ratio of 967 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of
80.3% (www.dharwad.com).

Respondents of the study were approached and sampled from the twin cities
(Hubli-Dharwad) from Dharwad district. Respondents sampled are spread across the
district. The towns are selected based on the population of the community taken by

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the NGO. Hubli and Dharwad city are major cruising sites of homosexuals. So the
researcher contacted the respondents in Hubli and Dharwad.

3.5 Aim of the study

The aim of this study is to understand the personal and social life of the male
homosexuals of Dharwad district.

3.6 Specific objectives

1. To explore the different types of identity associated with male homosexuals and
the problems related to their sexuality and gender identity
2. To understand their family and wider social networks in which they are situated
3. To study the sexual health issues of male homosexuals and to gain an insight
about psychological problems of male homosexuals
4. To describe the violence on male homosexuals
5. To identify the problems of male homosexuals in the light of present legal
system.
6. To understand the problems of male homosexuals from social work point of
view.

3.7 Research design

The present study is descriptive in nature. The major goal of descriptive

research is to describe events, phenomena and situations (Ahuja,2001). Descriptive
designs describe as accurately as possible the characteristics of a group of people or a
community. It is the scientific way of observing, describing and analyzing the
situations. Theory drives the design of descriptive research especially in the selection
of the perspective or point of view from which the observations will be made
(Kumar,2011). In the present study the personal and social life of male homosexuals
were observed and described through different aspects of their life. This study made
an attempt to understand the life of male homosexuals by observing the important
concerns of their life such as sexual identity, sexual health, mental health, violence
and legal aspects related to their life.

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 There are very less studies which focus on the issues of homosexuals
holistically and permeate all aspects about them and few studies on homosexuals are
confined to urban pockets of the country. Studies attempting to understand the health
aspects of homosexuals began only when the phenomenon of HIV/AIDS assumed an
alarming scenario and funds started flooding India. Then the focus also directed on
male homosexuals as they are one of the vulnerable groups to HIV/AIDS. But studies
rarely focused on homosexuals who live in non urban areas. Keeping this in mind,
this study attempted to describe and understand the relation between the important
issues of personal and social life of homosexuals.

Following are the criteria for inclusion and exclusion of respondents for the
present study

Inclusion criteria:

Criteria to include the individuals as respondents of the study was

• Respondents who have declared themselves as homosexuals.

• Respondents who are willing to give interview to the researcher.

• Respondents who belong to Dharwad District.

Exclusion criteria

• Those who do not speak confidently about their personal matters

• Respondents who have dual stand about their sexual orientation.

• Respondents who do not belong to Dharwad District.

3.8 Sampling

The respondents of present study are male homosexuals of Dharwad District.

But there are no precise estimations on the exact number of male homosexuals in
Dharwad. Suraksha, a non-governmental organization, which is working with male
homosexuals, has made a rough estimate on their population in Dharwad. According
to which their strength is 1018, but there are no proper names and addresses. Further
there is no precise information about the classification of data according to their
sexual identity in estimation. Therefore, there are serious limitations in considering it

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as universe. Acquiring a complete perception about male homosexuals is, therefore,
coterminous with progress of this research study. Male homosexuals do not disclose
their sexual identity publicly or with a person who is not close to them. Many of them
do not have a fixed place to reside and they go on changing their place of residence.

Majority of them often come to Hubli or Dharwad to carry on day to day

activities like business, trade, physical labour, education etc., apart from their sexual
needs. Therefore, it is easier to meet them in Hubli or Dharwad than in their own
places. They come in search of their sexual partners to twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad
as there is anonymity. Many of them have different names for maintaining their social
identity. They are not uniformly spread in all the places. Their sexual identity is fluid,
it keeps on changing. Some of them have confusions about their identity. They
themselves have to disclose about their sexual identity. Therefore it is difficult to
adopt probability sampling. Keeping all these constraints in view snowball sampling
method was chosen.

The present study attempts to understand the problems of male homosexuals.

Data collection for the study was carried out in the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad.
Visibility of Homosexuals is low due to negative sanctions of society. Most of the
homosexuals hide their genuine sexual orientation and, therefore, it is difficult to
access the male homosexuals publicly. This naturally posed as a limitation in
adopting sampling method based on the principle of probability. Therefore, non-
probability sampling method was suited in this situation. It has been decided to select
snowball sampling method to choose the samples. This technique is used to identify
elements of rare populations by referrals (Dwivedi,1997). Gelles(1978, as cited in Lal
Das, 2004) argues that this sampling technique is that, the victims might be hesitant
to identify themselves if approached by a stranger but might be friendly to someone
who they know and share their experiences. In this technique, the researcher begins
the research with the few respondents who are known and available to her.
Subsequently, these respondents give other names who meet the criteria of research,
who in turn give more new names. This process continued until the availability of
respondents who meet the criteria of inclusion for the present study. Finally the
researcher stopped after consecutively non availability of the respondents and the
sample was concluded with 304 total respondents for the final study.

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3.9 Respondents for the study

Respondents of the present study are male homosexuals, who are born as male
and have sexual attraction towards male individuals. Among male homosexuals one
comes across different identities such as kothis, double deckers, bisexuals, panthis,
gays, hijras etc. The respondents sampled are from Dharwad district. The respondents
of the study are from rural background, low economic status and low educational
background. As precise information about the geographical distribution of the
respondents in Dharwad district was difficult to obtain. The researcher therefore,
relied on Drop In Centres (DIC) of NGO, where the researcher worked. DICs are
places of rest for sexual minorities; also they serve as meeting points for them and
mobilizing centres for NGOs. Therefore, the researcher had to rely on DICs for
accessing the respondents. Moreover, all individuals were not willing to face
interviews. Therefore the researcher relied on ‘key informant approach’. Key
informants were those who not only answered to the questions asked but also
provided valuable information on other respondents who were willing to undergo the
interviews. Snowball sampling was, therefore, adopted. Following are the
respondents of this study:

Table 3.1 Classification of Respondents

Sexual Identity No. of respondents(n=304) %

Kothi 124 40.79

Double Decker 064 21.05

Bisexual 056 18.42

Transgender 0 0.00

Other 060 19.74

Total 304 100

3.10 Source of data

The source of data for the present study is divided into two sections. A.
Primary data and B. Secondary data. Primary data were collected directly by the
respondents of this research study through the tools and techniques used for the study.

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Secondary data were collected by various books related to the issue, journal articles
regarding the problems, reports of government, different national and international
organizations working for homosexuals, human rights, health, education, gender,
HIV/AIDS and so on. Various websites also provided information.

3.11 Tools and Techniques of data collection

Interview schedule and focused group discussion check list are used as tools
for data collection. Interview technique is the verbal method of collecting the data
(Wilkinson & Bhandarkar,1984). The researcher while working in an NGO which is
working for the welfare of male homosexuals, had undergone different types of
trainings, workshops and exposure visits to different organizations which were
working with homosexuals and the researcher’s observation, review of literature on
the issue of homosexuals were helped the researcher in formulating the interview
schedule. After preparing the interview schedule it has been discussed with experts in
the field of social work who were also working with homosexuals and their
suggestions have been incorporated in the schedule and the final version of the
interview schedule was prepared.

Interview is an effective, informal verbal and nonverbal conversation, initiated

for specific purposes and focused on certain planned content areas (Young, 2000).
The respondents of this study are from rural and semi-urban background and also
they are not much educated. Therefore, it has been decided to adopt interview
schedules as suitable data collection technique. Interview is highly a flexible tool. It
allows a more permissive atmosphere than is the case when using other techniques of
investigation. Questions not readily grasped by interviewees can be rephrased, or
repeated with proper emphasis and explanations when necessary. The interviewer has
greater opportunity to appraise the accuracy and validity of replies. Contradictory
statements can be followed up and possible reasons for contradiction learned. The
interviewer might also be able to differentiate on the spot between fact and fiction
supplied by the informants, their hearsay and impressions, convictions and opinions.
In the competent interviewer, interviewees often feel freer to express their fears,
complexes, emotionally laden situations, than when filling out a questionnaire
(Young, 2000).

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 Respondents were asked sixty five questions which range from demographic
details like age, religion, education, income, occupation, marriage, sexual identity etc
to the issues related to the identity which includes problems related to identity,
disclosure of identity etc, sexual health issues like sexually transmitted infections,
risk perceptions, knowledge about HIV etc., Mental health issues like isolation,
loneliness, suicidal tendency, self destructive behaviour etc., issues related to violence
like types of violence, relation between violence and sexuality etc., legal aspects like
section 377, awareness about their rights etc. Questions were classified on the basis of
issues. Questions were arranged in a sequence that proceeds from simple, easy to
answer and from the most familiar questions to the complex one. There are closed
ended and open ended questions, nominal, ordinal and interval types have been
probed.

The Focused Group Discussion is considered as a qualitative method of data

collection which allows the researcher to question several individuals systematically
and simultaneously (Rubin &Babbie, 2011). It is a part of research which is employed
as a convenient way to interview a group of people at once. When researchers want to
explore people’s understandings, it makes sense to employ methods which actively
encourage the examination of the social processes in action. It has been found that
group discussion is one of the suitable tools in exploring issues of homosexuals.
(Kitzinger,1994).

After the data collection through interviewing respondents, the researcher

finalized the focused group discussion check list. The issues were listed out by the
observation of the researcher and review of literature of the previous studies.

Group discussion as a technique of data collection was prepared by framing

such questions to elicit the desired information on overall ideas about identity and
problems of the male homosexuals as a community. On some issues the respondents
answered better in a group than individually. The internal problems of the community
were discussed more objectively by respondents in a group where there could have
lurked the chances of bias had questions been answered individually. Groups
discussion as a tool has therefore, helped in gaining insight into intricate issues of
male homosexuals as a community. Limited questions are posed to sustain the interest
among respondents.

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 After completing the interview schedules, researcher planned to arrange
focused group discussions to generate a maximum number of different ideas and
opinions from as many different people as possible. Researcher has discussed about
the group discussion with the respondents whom she has a good rapport. Respondents
for focused group discussion are selected by nomination method. The key individuals
who already have good rapport with the researcher nominate people whom they think
would make good participants. Nominees were familiar with the topic, known for
their ability to respectfully share their opinions and willing to spend about two hours
of their time.

Therefore, three groups were arranged. It was decided to arrange the group
discussion in the ‘drop in centre’ of the NGO. All the respondents who came for the
group discussion earlier have met the researcher while filling up the interview
schedule. The researcher initiated the discussion. The respondents who had good
rapport with the researcher lead the discussion. In-depth discussion of issues which
were probed in the interview schedule has been done. The issues discussed were:

• Violence- type of violence, when they have undergone violence, by whom, what
are effects on them
• Family issues- marriage, childhood, reaction of family members to their sexual
orientation, parents reaction towards them, other family members’ reaction,
relation with wife

• Self-destructive behaviours- type, reason, severity

• Suicide- thoughts, reasons, persons who have committed, type of suicidal attempt
• Problems faced at societal level-in the school, neighbours, in the lane, in getting
civic amenities, in work place

• Male homosexuals of Dharwad and their mobility

Twenty eight respondents participated in the discussion: seven, ten and eleven
participants were from first, second and third groups respectively. Discussion
continued without hiccups as all of the respondents were comfortable in their
expressions even though all were not known to each other. Duration of discussion
ranged from two to two and half hours.

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 After the three group discussion the researcher felt that she has conducted
enough group discussions when she was not hearing anything new anymore, that it
has reached a point of saturation.

3.12 Pre-testing of tools

Pre-testing of tools is essential for a research study and it is an opportunity to

know the possible lacuna in data collection techniques. It is concerned with
administrative and organizational problems related to the whole study and the
respondents. The purposes of the pre-testing of tools are:

• To test the research tools and their suitability.

• To estimate the level of response.
• To familiarize investigators with the research environment in which the research
is to take place.

• To test the responses of the respondents to the method of data collection.

• To test the time taken for each interview schedule.
In the present study Pre-testing of tools was carried among 10 respondents.
After the Pre-testing the tools shortcomings were identified and rectified.

3.13 Main study

Respondents were approached and rapport was built. The contents of the
ethical issues were shared with them. Confidentiality was assured to the respondents.
It was promised that at any stage of the interview if they did not like to continue, they
would terminate the interview and they were free to ignore any question. Each
interview took on average of almost one to two hours of duration. Interview schedules
were executed from June 2009 to December 2009.

3.14 Data processing and analysis

After the data collection the completed interview schedules are rechecked,
systematically arranged and numbered. Variables were separated and coding was
done by assigning codes to each variables. The master table was prepared. The data
have been entered and dealt with manually. Analysis is made on descriptive,
quantitative and qualitative basis. Analysis of the collected information was done

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after dividing it into different sections. Bi variant and multi variant tables and charts
were constructed and analyzed using the statistical functions like mean and
association between the attributes were calculated using Yule’s co-efficient of
association method and chi-square test. Yule’s co-efficient of association method is
the popular method to determine the nature and degree of association between the two
attributes in a dichotomous classification of data (Arora, et al. 2007), whereas, the
essence of Chi-square test is a comparison of frequencies in a manifold classification.
It is generally used to test the hypothesis, additionally, it also used to test whether the
two attributes are independent of each other or any association between them
(Mutai,2000). The results are discussed comparing with the previous studies done in
the same area.

3.15 Ethical considerations

• Aim, objectives, implications of the study was informed to the respondents.

• Verbal consent was taken before the interview.

• Confidentiality was assured to the respondents.

• It was informed to the respondents that they could clarify the doubts about the
interview or about the questions at any time of the interview process, free to
boycott the interview session if they were uncomfortable, could refuse to answer
any question if they were not willing.

3.16 Terms used in the study

• MSM (Male Sex with Male): MSM is an acronym for men who have sex with
men. It is conceptualized as a behavioural category of men who have sexual
and/or emotional relationships with other men.

• Kothi : The term ‘kothi’ seems to have come from the Hindi word ‘kuto’, which
means buttock (Joseph,2005). In the South Asian context, a male homosexual
who is feminized and takes a passive or receptive role in sex is called as kothi.

• Double Decker : ‘Double Deckers’ refer to persons who get penetrated as well as
penetrate, and those who may also have sex with women.

• Bisexual : ‘Bisexual’ is a person who is attracted romantically, emotionally,

sexually to both men and women.

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• Panthi : The term ‘Panthi’ is used by Kothis/Hijras to refer to a person whom
they consider as ‘real men’ - in the sense those who only penetrate.

• Gay : ‘Gay’ is the western term, where a man who is attracted to another men
emotionally, sexually and physically is a gay.

• Lesbian : ‘Lesbian’ is a Woman who has sex with another woman.

• Queer : ‘Queer’ is an identity which encompasses a multiplicity of desires and

diverse sexualities outside the homo/hetero sexual matrix in which identity is seen
as performative, something that one do and act out rather than possessing it, and
something that one assemble from existing discursive practices.

• Hijra: ‘Hijra’ is a socio cultural construct in which an individual who is

biologically male takes on the gender role of a female (PUCL-K, 2001).

• Intersex: The person born with both male and female genitals.

• Sexual orientation: sexual orientation refers to a person’s choice of partners,

whether of the same sex, the opposite sex or sexes for sexual and affectional
relations.

• Cruising site: The place where male homosexuals pick up their sexual partner.

3.17 Abbreviations

• LGBT - Lesbian, Gay ,Bisexual and Transgender.

• FSW - Female Sex Worker.

• MSW - Male Sex Worker.

• STI - Sexually Transmitted Infections.

• STD - Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

• HIV - Human Immuno Deficiency Virus.

• AIDS - Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome

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3.18 Structure of the Thesis

Present work comprises five chapters. Following is the structure of the present
study in terms of chapters.

• Chapter One includes the brief introduction about the concepts, issues and
problems related to sexuality and homosexuality which were discussed in the later
chapters. It gives the brief picture of the whole thesis.

• Chapter Two is related to Review of literature. Review of literature encompasses

such areas as health, violence and identity of homosexuals. Both conceptual
matters and previous empirical studies related to identity, health and legal aspects
related to the homosexuals are discussed.

• Chapter Three explains the methodology adopted in this research. It explains the
research design, sampling, area of study, respondents, method of data collection,
sampling, tools of data collection, codification, framing of tables and charts and
the analysis of the data, implications etc.

• Chapter Four is based on the empirical data. Data are analyzed in this chapter.

• Chapter Five is about main findings and conclusion of this study.

3.19 Implications of the study

This research work has implications for different areas like social work
profession, academics, research and in evolving legislations.

Professional: this study would be useful to the social work professionals in

understanding the problems, to pinpoint suitable methods that can be adopted in
dealing with them.

Research: It will be of help for researchers as it connects macro and micro

dimensions of the homosexuality and homosexuals by examining the macro problem
in a micro situation. It is a pointer to areas of concern to be studied in future.

Legal: it will be of help by providing empirical evidence on varied issues and

problems of homosexuals which may enable legal experts in empathizing the
situation in framing new laws or to amend the present laws.

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3.20 Limitations of the study

Following are the limitations of our study:

• Due to the nature of the respondents some of them have not articulated openly

• This study is confined to limited issues like violence, identity, personal and social
life, sexual and mental health and legal issues pertaining to male homosexuals.
Other aspects are not in the scope of the present study.

• It is applicable to only limited population i.e., rural and semi-urban population of

Dharwad District.

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