Understanding and Challenging Stigma toward ... - Pact Cambodia

Understanding
MSM
MSM with female gender expression are more identifiable as men who have
sex with men so they are more heavily stigmatized. This is why MSM short hair,
who present themselves and identify as men with masculine gender expression,
are able to hide their sexual orientation and, on the whole, avoid stigma. They
only face stigma at the clinic when health workers find out they are having sex
with men. MSM long hair, on the other hand, are heavily stigmatized and
harassed for their overtly feminine gender expression and the assumption that
this means they are men who have sex with men. Because of their feminine
looks and behavior, they are a target for the strongest stigma. Stepping outside
of the “gender box” puts the long hair at risk of stigma.
So while MSM is a term developed to describe sexual behavior, rather than
gender identity and gender expression, the reality is that MSM are often
stigmatized for having sex with men and for their gender expression.
In summary the term MSM describes a wide variety of sexual practices
and identities, including: short hair MSM; long hair MSM (transgender);
bisexuals, including married men who have sex with men; prisoners who self
identity as heterosexual, but have sex with men while they are in prison; male
sex workers who see themselves as heterosexual, “real men” but sell their
bodies for sex with men. It is very important to understand these different
identities and realities if we are going to provide effective health and other
services to these different types of MSM.
149