The Feminist Theory and Gender Section, ISA is returning with the Global Voices! We are delighted to kick off with our first talk: Compulsory heteronormativity dictates the everyday life of men and their masculinities in Nepal. But how do queer men navigate masculinity, sexuality, and heteronormativity within intersecting systems of oppression? Through oral history interviews with 15 queer men in Kathmandu, this research reveals how queer men employ various strategic essentialisms while challenging Western frameworks for understanding queerness by demonstrating how class, caste, and ability create distinct assemblages of identity that fundamentally shape queer experiences.
OCTOBER 20, 2025, 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM (EASTERN STANDARD TIME)
Bishal Pandey is a doctoral student at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Department of Communication, as well as a recent graduate of the Master’s in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Cincinnati. Bishal’s research lies at the intersection of technology and sexuality, particularly exploring how queer and trans Nepalis navigate their everyday experiences online in an emerging digital economy.
PRESENTER: Bishal Pandey (University of Illinois Chicago). Click here for session details and registration.
Gendering World Politics 