The Cultural Rationale and Interactions Regarding the MSM Network, Subculture and Other Contexts in an Indian Urban Setting

Anushree Das Banerjee

Department of Applied Psychology

Annamalai University

(India)

Arnab Das

Department of Anthropology, 

University of Calcutta

(India)

Abstract: The research intends to provide an understanding of how the contemporary local constructs and expressions of culture regarding the impacts of different levels of awareness of AIDS among the males having sex with males in and around the Kolkata metropolis of India. The adolescent and adult males comprising of the interactive MSM networks, subcultures (like Kothis, Panthis, Parikhs, Duplis, Gay, Bisexual, Hizras, etc) and other related contexts of larger society, more or less found in silent discourse of reality, are explored by means of empathetic observations and psychological counseling. It will also provide an overview of the local relationships within intra-, inter-group sexual and gender orientation, identity, behaviour, perceptions of different networks, subcultures (e.g. of similar/ different orientations) of Indian society. The relationships seem to affect the awareness of sexuality, behaviour, risk, and resiliency, resulting in health disparities. The scenario of different types of cultural rationale and interaction help unfolding the reality. The purpose of collecting this information is to guide the development of effective policies and programs for working with adolescent and adult people in particular.

The non-availability or silence of proper guidance and counselling to adolescents and adults in current locality and people under study is a social problem. The research also addresses the useful information on adolescence, adulthood, sexually transmitted diseases, modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS and some insiders’ measures felt by the msm networks and subcultures. The present work recognizes that poverty is one of the principal contributing factors to the spread of HIV/AIDS. The associated livelihoods, access to the needed health services and other aspects of culture and interactions of the people indicate the urgency to develop multisectoral strategies to address the impact at the individual, family and community levels.  After experiencing a great diversity and fluidity in psychological, socio-cultural, sexual and gender issues, almost in all respects, especially the differences from the “western” experiences, it is hard to absolutely define any phenomenon. The investigation focused on the lived experience of the people under study. The purpose is to add to the understanding and description of the experiences of the informants.  Through purposive sampling, they were interviewed to illuminate in greater depth the phenomenon. All interviews were voluntary and confidential. In order to explore the phenomena the interviews of semi-structured format involved 1. A broad opening prompt including questions like (like, “Tell me about your memorable initial sexual experience/intercourse.”) eliciting stories, feelings, and memories. 2. A series of follow up prompts or topics to frame and focus the interviews and other documents.3. Psychological counseling, if needful, of the individuals facing problems with msm experiences.

This mix of qualitative (majorly by means of using phenomenology) and quantitative intention of research is able to gather and analyze of both thematic and structural understandings of experiences or phenomena. This interdisciplinary work principally based on Psychology and Anthropology seems to contribute to the educators, researchers, parents, health activists, health providers, policy makers and scientists.

About Anushree Das Banerjee:

Institutional Affiliation: 1. Presently employed as psychological counselor in MANAS Bangla , a NGO working in a project of AIDS prevention  and control along with MSM issues under NACO.

2. Presently attached with Samikshani , an NGO of Mental Health ,as an associate member and also Practicing Psychological Counseling independently.

3. Passed Post-Graduate course in Psychological Counseling from Jadavpur University (in collaboration with Samikshani).

4. Prosecuting M.Sc.-Applied Psychology from Annamalai University. India

PUBLICATION : Das. Arnab,  Rajarshi Chakraborty, Anushree Das Banerjee, ,2005: Genders an the Sexuality: The Categories and the Range in the Local Contexts of Urban Indian Constructs. In Ranjana Roy (Ed.) Adapting to Changing Environment.

About Arnab Das: -

Senior Lecturer in Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta

PUBLICATION : Almost twenty publications

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