The Effects of Oppression on Queer Intimate Adolescent Attachment
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University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Dissertations School of Social Policy and Practice Spring 5-17-2010 The Effects of Oppression on Queer Intimate Adolescent Attachment Cynthia Closs University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations_sp2 Part of the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Closs, Cynthia, "The Effects of Oppression on Queer Intimate Adolescent Attachment" (2010). Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Dissertations. 6. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations_sp2/6 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations_sp2/6 For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Effects of Oppression on Queer Intimate Adolescent Attachment Abstract In America’s privileged majority, one of the primary focuses of adolescence is to establish independence from the youth’s family of origin and develop primary attachment to an intimate partner. Unlike heterosexually identified outh,y lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning (LGBTQ) youth receive limited support from society when developing their sexual orientation identity and same sex, intimate relationships. Furthermore, LGBTQ youth are exposed to an insufficient number of public, same sex relationships, have access to few supportive spaces to explore same sex sexuality and relationships, and are met with a societal understanding of relationship building that is entrenched in heterosexism. This societal oppression is concretely illustrated by the lack of consistent legal recognition of LGBTQ relationships in American society. Informed by Bowlby’s attachment theory, this qualitative research study sought to understand how experienced societal oppression of gay, bisexual, and queer male identified adolescents impacted the attachment process and attachment security of same sex relational intimacy. Through the use of in depth interviews, fourteen, male identified, African-American young adults between the ages of eighteen through twenty-four provided relational narratives in an effort to understand the factors that contributed to their ability to form positive, secure attachment to intimate, same sex partners while contending with homonegativity. An understanding of the diverse ways in which gay, bisexual, and queer male identified youth maintained feelings of secure attachment to their same sex partner when contending with homonegativity was identified. These findings contributeo t the understanding of resilience in the attachment process of LGBTQ youth. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Social Work (DSW) First Advisor Ram Cnaan, PhD Second Advisor Theo Burnes, PhD Third Advisor Linda Hawkins, EdD Keywords queer youth, attachment theory, oppression, homophobia Subject Categories Social Work This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations_sp2/6 THE EFFECTS OF OPPRESSION ON QUEER INTIMATE ADOLESCENT ATTACHMENT Cynthia Closs A DISSERTATION in Social Work Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Social Work 2010 ______________________ Ram A. Cnaan, Ph.D. Supervisor of Dissertation Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Education ______________________ Richard J. Gelles, Ph.D. Dean, School of Social Policy and Practice Dissertation Committee Theo Burnes, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer Associate Director, Professional Counseling & Applied Psychology Programs Linda A. Hawkins, Ed.D., M.S.Ed. Director of Clinical Services The Attic Youth Center Carrie Jacobs, Ph.D. Executive Director The Attic Youth Center ii THE EFFECTS OF OPPRESSION ON QUEER INTIMATE ADOLESCENT ATTACHMENT COPYRIGHT 2010 Cynthia Closs iii Dedicated to Denise and India In Memory of Noir iv Acknowledgments Firstly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for my dissertation chair, Ram Cnaan, whose general demeanor was charmingly gruff. Throughout this endeavor, he unknowingly supplied me with quotes that made me laugh in times that required humor to persevere and comments that I will cherish forever . Without his ongoing support, encouragement, patience, knowledge, and expressed belief in the value of this work, I would have never completed this process. I continue to hope that he is aware of how important he was to me during this undertaking and how honored I am that he was a part of my process. Thank you. Secondly, I would like to express my indebtedness to my committee members Theo Burnes, Linda Hawkins, and Carrie Jacobs for their insight, support, critique, challenges to cultivate and expand my thought processes, general cheerleading, and reminders of what life is like post-defense. They nourished my determination. Thirdly, I would like to thank my friends and colleagues whose humor and emotional support kept me sane, grounded, and strengthened the stamina needed to complete this work. Fourthly, I am indebted to the amazing youth who participated in this study and were willing to share their story. I learned more from them than words can capture. Fifthly, I would like to thank the B.C. and Mother Breakfast for allowing me to disseminate information about my study and for not throwing that bucket of water on me because she believed I called the police. v Finally, I would like to thank my amazing partner for her love, consummate acceptance of my crazy work schedule, willingness to sacrifice without complaint, commitment to helping me achieve this degree, and general ability to cope with me. vi ABSTRACT THE EFFECTS OF OPPRESSION ON QUEER INTIMATE ADOLESCENT ATTACHMENT Cynthia Closs Ram Cnaan, Ph.D. In America’s privileged majority, one of the primary focuses of adolescence is to establish independence from the youth’s family of origin and develop primary attachment to an intimate partner. Unlike heterosexually identified youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning (LGBTQ) youth receive limited support from society when developing their sexual orientation identity and same sex, intimate relationships. Furthermore, LGBTQ youth are exposed to an insufficient number of public, same sex relationships, have access to few supportive spaces to explore same sex sexuality and relationships, and are met with a societal understanding of relationship building that is entrenched in heterosexism. This societal oppression is concretely illustrated by the lack of consistent legal recognition of LGBTQ relationships in American society. Informed by Bowlby’s attachment theory, this qualitative research study sought to understand how experienced societal oppression of gay, bisexual, and queer male identified adolescents impacted the attachment process and attachment security of same sex relational intimacy. Through the use of in depth interviews, fourteen, male identified, African-American young adults between the ages of eighteen through twenty-four provided relational narratives in an effort to understand the factors that contributed to their ability to form positive, secure attachment to intimate, same sex partners while contending with homonegativity. An understanding of the diverse ways in which gay, vii bisexual, and queer male identified youth maintained feelings of secure attachment to their same sex partner when contending with homonegativity was identified. These findings contribute to the understanding of resilience in the attachment process of LGBTQ youth. viii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Queer Youth Adolescent Identity Development Adolescent Intimacy Development Queer Legal Protection and Discrimination Impact of Queer Oppression on Identity Formation Queer Identity Formation Theories Research on Sexual Identity Development and Oppression Statistics of Queer Individuals Legal Policy Queer Relationship Development Chapter 2 Bowlby Attachment Theory Secure and Insecure Attachment Internal Working Models Queer Relationships and Attachment Queer Youth Attachment Sexuality Environmental Influences and Attachment Importance of Understanding Queer Oppression on Intimate Attachment Implications for Clinical Social Work Chapter 3 Research Questions Problem Statement Research Design Selection Criteria Instrumentation Interview Process Research Participant Statistics Reflexivity Statement Consultation Plan ix Chapter 4 Ambivalence about the Intimate Relationship being the Target of Homophobia Admiration for Boyfriend Relationship Dynamics that Nurture Relational Success Causes of Homophobia Microaggressions Relational Management of Homophobia Relational Reattachment Processes after Experienced Homophobia Contradictory Statements about Experienced Homophobia Internalized Homonegativity Impact of Homophobia on the Intimate Relationship Resiliency Advice for Queer Youth Chapter 5 Conceptual Implications Clinical Implications Limitations Future Research Appendices Appendix A: In Depth Interview Guide Appendix B: Recruitment Flyer Appendix C: Informed Consent Form Appendix D: Interviewee Data Queer Adolescent Attachment 1 Chapter I: Introduction Adolescence is the transitional period from childhood to adulthood. During adolescence, youth experience rapid changes physically, emotionally and mentally. Many times these changes create a sense of ambiguity and insecurity. In America, the fundamental focus of adolescence is the development of an adult sense of self and identity with ensuing independence from family of origin. Resolution of this stage of development