Renowned sexologist and sociologist Li Yinhe (李银河) in a recent blogpost on the lives of tongqi (同妻), heterosexual women who find themselves married to gay Chinese men (translation adapted from Yawning Bread):
I attended a forum that discussed the problem of ‘homowives‘. The so-called ’homowife‘ (tongqi 同妻) is the wife (qi 妻) of a homosexual (tongzhi 同志). It has been said that China has 20 million male homosexuals, of whom 80 per cent would marry a woman. These women are the ’homowives‘, and there are 16 million of them.
The ‘homowife’ phenomenon is a phenomenon unique to China, seldom witnessed in other countries. In other countries, homosexuals would remain single or live together or marry other homosexuals. Very few would enter into a heterosexual marriage. This difference comes about because Chinese culture places such a great emphasis on marriage and reproduction, as to make them compulsory.
During my visit to Hungary, I found out that only 10 per cent of people of marriageable age got hitched. The rest fell into three categories: single, cohabiting (living together), LAT (lovers who live apart). In such a society, gay people do not have any need at all to enter into a heterosexual marriage. People would not gossip about them and parents do not apply pressure. Unfortunately our Chinese culture is oppressive with its dictum on men and women having to get married when they reach a certain age and naming the lack of progeny as the most serious breach of filial piety – “there are three kinds of unfilial behaviour and the greatest is have no descendant”. This has compelled an entire community of male homosexuals to marry women to have children.
The condition for ‘homowives’ is extremely tragic. At the seminar, there were ‘homowives’ who burst into tears as they spoke, leading all of them to hug each other for a good cry. Most days, they wash their faces with tears. I heard what I considered the most shocking testimony that from a woman who told of how she even doubted her ability to attract men — why wouldn’t her husband even want to look at her or touch her? Am I really that unworthy as a woman? She assumed that all men would treat her like that, not knowing that this is far from the truth. She did not dream that her husband would be gay. Under the circumstances, even the most beautiful and accomplished woman would not arouse him.
Homowives have started to get organized in an effort to help themselves and help others. They have started a website and a helpline to assist fellow women who have fallen into the same predicament.
Their highest priority is to prevent women from marrying homosexuals, help those who suspect the sexual orientation of their boyfriends to analyse their situation better; and in the event that the other party is a confirmed homosexual, to dissuade the woman from entering a marriage with the man.
Secondly, they would like to extend a helping hand to those women who are already married to homosexuals and who would like a divorce. This includes helping them to make up their minds, relieving the pressure on them and reduce the financial and psychological damage that comes with divorce.
Thirdly, they would like to address the problems of homowives who do not want a divorce for a variety of reasons. This would include helping them to analyse the cost of keeping such a marriage going, how to communicate with their husbands and how to get along with their children.
They proposed a slogan: ‘Homowife ends with me’. This slogan is full of hurt and also extends concern to those who may follow in their footsteps. The slogan gives one a feeling that it is a noble cause.
I hope the majority of male homosexuals do not enter into heterosexual marriages any more and spare a thought for the feelings of the homowife.
Original Chinese text after the jump:
参加了一个“同妻”问题研讨会。所谓“同妻”是同性恋者的妻子之意。据说，中国有2000万男同性恋者，其中80%会与异性恋女人结婚，她们就是“同妻”，1600万人哪。
同妻现象是一个最富中国特色的现象，在世界任何其他国家都很少见到，因为其他国家的同性恋者或者独身，或者与同性同居，或者与同性结婚，很少进入异性婚姻。造成这种区别的原因是中国文化特别强调结婚和生育，到了强迫症的程度。
在匈牙利访问时，得知所有适宜结婚年龄的人当中只有一成多的人进入婚姻，其余的人处于三种状态：独身，同居，LAT（分开居住的伴侣）。在这样的社会，作为一位同性恋者就完全没有必要进入异性婚姻，别人不会说三道四，家长也不会给他压力。无奈咱们中国文化就是这么强迫症似的“男大当婚，女大当嫁”，就是这么强迫症似的“不孝有三，无后为大”，逼着一批男同性恋者与女人结婚，还生了小孩。
同妻处境极为悲惨，会上有的同妻经常说着说着就流下眼泪，继而所有的人抱头痛哭。她们在日常生活中也经常以泪洗面。我听到的一段让我最震撼的同妻叙述是讲到她甚至怀疑自己作为一个女人的魅力——为什么丈夫就连看都不愿意看我一眼，碰都不愿意碰我一下呢？我作为一个女人就这么不及格吗？她以为所有的男人都会这样看她，哪里知道事实并非如此，哪里知道丈夫是同性恋，就是再优秀的女人都引不起他的欲望。
同妻们现在已经行动起来，自救救人。她们开网站，开热线电话，帮助陷入相同处境的姐妹。
她们要做的事情首先是设法阻止女人与同性恋男人结婚，帮助那些对男友性倾向有怀疑的女人分析辨别，如果能确定对方是同性恋就劝阻她们结婚。
其次，对于那些已经陷入与同性恋的婚姻而希望离婚的女性提供帮助，帮她们出主意，宽解她们的压力，减少离婚所带来的物质和心理伤害。
再次，对于那些陷入与同性恋的婚姻又因为种种原因不想离婚的女性，帮她们分析保持这个婚姻的利弊，与丈夫的沟通方式，与孩子的相处方式等等。
她们提出了一个口号：同妻到我为止。这个口号充满了悲怆和对后来者的悲悯，甚至让人感到一点点悲壮的意味。
希望广大男同性恋者不要再进入异性婚姻，要考虑同妻的感受。
