First Advisor

Kinko Ito

Date of Award

Spring 6-15-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Sociology

Language

English

Subjects

manga, lesbian, gay, Japan, tateshakai

DOI

10.15760/honors.1711

Abstract

This thesis examines the evolving landscape of gay and lesbian self-representation in Japanese manga through a hermeneutic analysis of three key texts: My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata, and My Brother's Husband and Our Colors by Gengoroh Tagame. It investigates how manga functions not only as a storytelling medium but as a sociocultural mirror, uniquely positioned to illuminate the often-invisible negotiations of identity, shame, and social position that queer individuals experience in Japan. Through the lens of Takie Lebra's concept of bun (role or place in society), this project explores the ways in which queer characters seek legitimacy, connection, and healing through the performance or rejection of socially expected roles.

The sociological analysis presented in this thesis draws on Durkheim's theories of deviance and normativity, Goffman's dramaturgical model of self-presentation, and Dorothy Smith's feminist standpoint theory. Each of these theoretical perspectives helps contextualize the affective and relational experiences found in the selected manga and illustrates how these works offer cultural scripts for queer social participation in a traditionally conformist society.

This thesis also emphasizes hermeneutic inquiry, not just in textual analysis, but in engaging with the intentions, emotional landscapes, and reflective practices of the authors themselves. Manga, in this project, is not just content to be interpreted--it is an interpretive act in itself, produced by authors who are seeking to make visible what society has rendered illegible. Rooted in both personal reflection and sociological theory, this thesis asserts that manga provides a compelling medium for exploring the challenges and possibilities of queer life in contemporary Japan.

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Comments

An undergraduate honors thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts/Science in University Honors and Sociology

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43818

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