Assessing the Needs of Non-Monosexual Students Related to Campus LGBT Services Sidney R
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St. Cloud State University theRepository at St. Cloud State Culminating Projects in Higher Education Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Administration Education 5-2016 Assessing the Needs of Non-Monosexual Students Related to Campus LGBT Services Sidney R. Gardner St. Cloud State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/hied_etds Part of the Gender Equity in Education Commons, Higher Education Commons, and the Higher Education Administration Commons Recommended Citation Gardner, Sidney R., "Assessing the Needs of Non-Monosexual Students Related to Campus LGBT Services" (2016). Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration. 4. https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/hied_etds/4 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education at theRepository at St. Cloud State. It has been accepted for inclusion in Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration by an authorized administrator of theRepository at St. Cloud State. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Assessing the Needs of Non-Monosexual Students Related to Campus LGBT Services by Sidney R. Gardner A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of St. Cloud State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctorate of Education May, 2016 Dissertation Committee: Michael Mills, Chairperson Steven McCullar Daniel Macari Anne Phibbs 2 Abstract This research looked at the current campus climate for non-monosexual people and whether or not non-monosexual students felt understood and supported through current LGBTQ programs, services, and resources on their campus. The purpose of this research was to understand how LGBTQ centers/offices/services could best serve non-monosexual student populations. Ten undergraduate, mostly female identified, non-monosexual students at a large research intensive institution in the south participated in this basic qualitative research study. This research showed that non-monosexual students’ needs are not entirely being addressed through current programs, resources, and services on campus. According to this research, students were able to find spaces that were affirming to their identities as LGBTQ, yet they still had to learn to navigate all of the mircoaggressions and biphobia that exists both within and outside of the LGBTQ community. What this research showed is that LGBTQ centers need to be more attuned to the needs of non-monosexual populations and engaged in purposeful programs, education, and outreach aimed at non-monosexual populations. 3 Table of Contents Chapter Page I. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 6 My History ....................................................................................................... 6 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................ 10 Description and Scope of the Research ........................................................... 13 Research Questions ......................................................................................... 15 Purpose and Significance of the Study ............................................................ 15 II. Literature Review .................................................................................................. 17 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 17 Bisexuality Research ....................................................................................... 17 LGBTQ Higher Education Research ............................................................... 39 Queer Theory in Qualitative Research ............................................................ 44 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 51 III. Method ................................................................................................................... 54 Introduction to the Problem ............................................................................. 54 Qualitative Research Paradigm ....................................................................... 54 Critical Research ............................................................................................. 55 Queer Theoretical Approach to Analysis ........................................................ 56 Participants ...................................................................................................... 56 Explanation and Definitions of Identity Labels ............................................... 59 Instruments for Data Collection ...................................................................... 62 Analysis ........................................................................................................... 64 4 Chapter Page Quality of Research ......................................................................................... 65 IV. Results ................................................................................................................... 67 Non-monosexual Identity Development .......................................................... 69 Finding the Label ............................................................................................. 73 Attractions ....................................................................................................... 76 Coming Out ..................................................................................................... 79 Coming Out in Heterosexual Community versus LGBTQ Community .......... 90 Biphobia/Binegitivity/Bierasure ...................................................................... 93 Lack of Education/Understanding ................................................................... 98 Assumed Heterosexual .................................................................................... 101 Experiences in LGBTQ Student Organizations .............................................. 102 Dating .............................................................................................................. 106 Supportive Spaces for Non-monosexuals ........................................................ 108 Finding Support Online ................................................................................... 114 What Do Non-monosexual Students Need ...................................................... 115 Non-monosexual Inclusive Spaces .................................................................. 117 Educational Programs ...................................................................................... 120 Mentorship ....................................................................................................... 125 Summary .......................................................................................................... 127 V. Discussion .............................................................................................................. 133 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 133 Discussion ........................................................................................................ 135 5 Chapter Page Limitations ....................................................................................................... 142 Implications for Research ................................................................................ 143 Implications for Theory ................................................................................... 144 Implications for Practice .................................................................................. 148 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 151 References ......................................................................................................................... 153 Appendices A. Interview Guide ..................................................................................................... 161 B. Information on Robyn Ochs .................................................................................. 166 6 Chapter I: Introduction Males do not represent two discrete populations, heterosexual and homosexual. The world is not divided into sheep and goats. Not all things are black nor all things white. It is a fundamental of taxonomy that nature rarely deals with discrete categories. Only the human mind invents categories and tries to force facts into separated pigeon-holes. The living world is a continuum in each and every one of its aspects. The sooner we learn this concerning human sexual behavior the sooner we shall reach a sound understanding of the realities of sex. (Kinsey, Pomeroy, & Martin, 1948, p. 639) My History In 1996, as a junior in college, I had come out to myself and close friends and I decided it was time to start to come out to my family. I made the decision to come out to my dad first, knowing that he would be the least likely to disown me or cut me off financial or emotionally. I was in my first relationship with a women and I wanted to be able to share this part of my life with my family. My parents were separated and I knew that I could come out to my father without worrying