Affective Inequality and Heteronormative Discomfort

© 2016 Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG Focusing on empirical research carried out with young lesbians in two small cities, Manresa (Catalonia) and Ponta Grossa (Brazil), I explore their feelings of comfort and discomfort in public space from an intersectional perspective that takes into account their different positions. Besides the differences regarding the contexts, they permanently negotiate whether they show affection in public space or not, engaging with different practices to avoid discrimination such as ‘passing’ as heterosexuals. I argue that the deprivation of engaging in affective relations in public space is an instance of affective inequality, and that the relation between the private and the public space in small cities is a fundamental factor in the constitution of this inequality. By providing a distinction between systematic and circumstantial discomforts, I show how an emotional and geographical approach can provide new insights on how we address inequalities.