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Platonic touch means any form of physical contact which is not sexual and not romantic. Platonic touch in the lives of Black same gender loving (SGL) men may be influenced by the social construct of race, homophobia and gender roles. While previous research has focused on sexual and romantic intimacy, platonic touch is an area that has been largely neglected in relation to the Black SGL men. This study aims to explore the impact of deprivation of platonic touch on the lives of Black SGL men.
Methods
This qualitative research involved semi-structured interviews to 10 Black SGL men. Participants were recruited through social media posts on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke (2006) in six phases. This included familiarization with the data, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes and finally producing the final report. Themes and subcodes were developed collaboratively and refined iteratively. Quotes were identified as exemplars for each subcode and were linked to participant pseudonyms.
Results
Five major themes that emerged from the data included (1) Definitions of Platonic Touch, (2) Childhood Experiences, (3) Impact of Sexual Identity, (4) Touch Deprivation and Emotional Effects, and (5) Touch in Adulthood. The participants provided detailed definitions of platonic touch that included safety, care and consent. Several participants reported that affectionate touch was scarce in their childhood, and when it did happen, it was often associated with discipline or was directed towards females. The display of platonic touch is also determined by the level of sexual identity awareness of the participants. Some individuals explained that they gained physical connection in the queer community, while others continued to feel uncomfortable because of internalized homophobia or past rejection.
Several participants experienced severe deprivation, most notably when they were socially isolated (e.g., during the COVID-19 pandemic, when coming out, or when estranged from their family). The coping strategies used included engaging in self-comforting activities like caressing one’s arm, or seeking alternative forms of contact. Participants engaged in platonic touch in their adult years through the development of friendships, though they still had to deal with issues of consent, safety, and vulnerability. Several of the participants also noted that their views on touch have changed over the years, and this has been due to healing, community involvement, and better emotional intelligence.
Conclusions and Implications
Results emphasize the significance of platonic touch in the health and social support of Black SGL men. This is a problem of both individual and structural nature, which is based on cultural prohibitions, heteronormativity, and the erasure of marginalized groups. Practitioners who work with Black LGBTQIA+ populations should view platonic touch as a healing practice and try to incorporate body-mind and somatic approaches into their practice. Further studies should be conducted to identify how community-based programs can create safe spaces for non-sexual physical contact especially for men who have been traumatized, rejected, or socially isolated.