Viadagem: an analysis of queer identities co-construction and negotiation in talk-in-interaction

Abstract

Based on the theoretical and methodological perspective of Conversation Analysis (SACKS; SCHEGLOFF; JEFFERSON, 1974) and Membership Categorization Analysis (SACKS, 1992), this study claims that social identities are locally constructed and negotiated and it is done by activating categories (e.g., ethnicity, gender and sexuality) in interaction. To understand the phenomena socially demonstrated in interaction, the analysis within both CA and MCA takes an emic perspective (PIKE, 1967; MALABARBA, 2015), i.e., the analysis is done by looking to the ways in which the participants interpret what is said and done by each other. The database is composed by interactions taking place during a weekend trip among a group of friends who identify themselves as belonging to the LGBT+ community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and non-heteronormative individuals). The focus of the analysis is on a drinking game activity that presents Brazilian memes popular among members of LGBT+ community. Through ‘unmotivated looking’ (PSATHAS, 1995) at the data, it was possible to identify two different trajectories in terms of identity construction during the drinking game. In several sequences the participants activated categorizations that evoke ‘gender’ and ‘sexuality’ membership category devices (MCD) and these were oriented to as unproblematic by the participants. Interestingly, in other several sequences, some categorizations were activated, and these were challenged by the participants and such action led them to negotiate their social identities. The findings show that participants’ identities were mutually constructed as the interaction happened and that individuals’ language use is responsible to shape their identities. The study contributes to Brazilian CA studies on social identities and to bring representativeness to Queer individuals by occupying a niche in the academy.