Date of Award
12-14-2015
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Department
Educational Studies
First Advisor
Allison Anders
Second Advisor
Robert Johnson
Abstract
In the United States, often Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and/or Questioning (LGBTQ) students are targets of verbal harassment and violence due to their sexual orientation or gender identity and gender expression. Further, 31 states do not offer protection against sexuality- or gender identity-based discrimination (ACLU, 2015). Schools are particularly vexing places, where L, G, B, T, and/or Q-identified students face difficulties due to the privileging of heterosexual students and heternormativity. In universities across the nation, suicide rates continue to climb for LGBTQ populations due to heterosexist policies, procedures, and practices, which lead to negative campus climates (Gortmaker & Brown, 2006; Howard & Stevens, 2000; Rankin, 2003). In this study, I used a mixed-methods approach to examine the campus climate for LGBTQ students who are out at a primarily white institution (PWI) in the South. I hypothesized that students who were out would experience campus climate more negatively than those who were not. While my findings did not indicate a significant relationship between outness and campus climate variables, students reported experiencing harassment on campus and negative experiences with Greek Life. Moreover, 81% reported passing as straight to maintain comfort on campus.
Rights
© 2015, Leia Kristin Cain
Recommended Citation
Cain, L. K.(2015). Experiences of LGBTQ Students at a Primarily White Institution in the South. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/3230
Included in
Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons