Abstract
The article discusses the revelation of the homosexual orientation to the family of origin from the perspective of the anthropology of the emotions, based on the experience of a young middle-class lesbian. The testimony thematizes tensions experienced in the domestic sphere after the disclosure of sexual orientation to her parents, highlighting a specific situation in which the mother would have expressed “shame” for having a lesbian daughter. The mother’s shame is considered insulting by her daughter, since it refuses a desired form of consideration. The analysis highlights how emotional discourses can operate micropolitically, not only defining and reinforcing, but also questioning hierarchies.
Keywords:
emotion; homosexuality; gender; family