The Forgotten Community: Exploring well-being and belonging in Northern Irelands LGBT+ community

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Understanding the needs of individuals, and how they can improve their quality of life is central to development (Sen, 1999). This paper focuses on the quality of life and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. The paper draws on the Capability Approach and its focus on expanding individuals’ substantive freedoms (their capabilities), and its focus on removing the types of unfreedoms that leave people with little choice or control to choose the lives they have reason to value (Sen, 1999). The paper considers whether it is possible for an individual to live a good life in accordance with their sexual orientation. Existing work in Northern Ireland has demonstrated that some of its citizens are unable to participate in the life of the communities in which they live due to their sexual orientation (Fish, 2008; Hayes, 2014; Hicks, 1997). Some life choices are not available in Northern Ireland for members of the LGBT community and some opportunities in life remain inaccessible, allowing many to feel socially excluded and lacking a sense of belonging (Fish, 2008).
This paper has adapted a framework (with permission), known as the Integrated Capabilities Framework (Hodgett and Clark, 2011) to explore the quality of life and well-being of the LGBT community. Hodgett and Clark (2011) have developed the Integrated Capabilities Framework using the Capability Approach (Sen, 1985; 1999; 2009) the Livelihood Approach (Chambers and Conway, 1992; Carney, 1998) and the Chronic Poverty Approach (Hulme and Shepherd, 2003). All three of these approaches offer different insights into studying well-being. The adapted framework has allowed the researcher to explore and capture the values, features and actual experiences of LGBT community participants (Hodgett and Clark, 2011). Using qualitative data taken from forty interviews, this paper considers whether the LGBT community’s capabilities to do and to be are reduced in Northern Ireland. The paper reflects on whether the LGBT community’s ability to flourish, to be the best that they can be and do, may be facilitated or diminished by government intervention (Nussbaum 2006; Clark, 2006).
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 06 May 2017
EventSociological Association of Ireland 44th Annual Conference, Belfast, 2017 - Ulster University, Belfast, United Kingdom
Duration: 05 May 201706 May 2017
http://www.sociology.ie/saiconf2017.html

Conference

ConferenceSociological Association of Ireland 44th Annual Conference, Belfast, 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityBelfast
Period05/05/201706/05/2017
Internet address

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