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Debunking the False Dichotomy Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations Graduate Capstone Projects 2019 Debunking the false dichotomy: Developing and applying trans quantcrit at the intersection of trans/ non-binary identities and religious, secular, and spiritual engagement in college Kate Curley Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.emich.edu/theses Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Higher Education Commons, and the Religious Education Commons Recommended Citation Curley, Kate, "Debunking the false dichotomy: Developing and applying trans quantcrit at the intersection of trans/non-binary identities and religious, secular, and spiritual engagement in college" (2019). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 986. https://commons.emich.edu/theses/986 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Graduate Capstone Projects at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Debunking the False Dichotomy: Developing and Applying Trans QuantCrit at the Intersection of Trans/Non-Binary Identities and Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Engagement in College by Kate Curley Dissertation Submitted to the College of Education Eastern Michigan University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Educational Leadership Dissertation Committee: Carmen McCallum, PhD, Chair David Anderson, PhD Raul Leon, PhD Cindy Ann Kilgo, PhD February 22, 2019 Ypsilanti, Michigan Running head: DEBUNKING THE FALSE DICHOTOMY ii Abstract Discrimination towards people who identify as trans/non-binary (NB) is still extremely well documented and pervasive across many different demographics. Discussions on religious, secular, or spiritual (RSS) identities and trans/NB identities are often fraught with difficult conflicts between the two. In student affairs published standards, practitioners are expected to serve “regardless” of gender in RSS programs and “regardless” of religion in LGBTQ+ programming. This study sought to explore how RSS campus climate influences students’ attitudes towards trans/NB people and how trans/NB experience their RSS campus climate. Informed by critical theory and using critical consciousness and ally identity development conceptual frameworks, I used a longitudinal data set of over 7,000 first-year students at the beginning and at the end of the first year of college. Methodologically, I developed and used a critical quantitative model informed by critical race theory and trans epistemologies called Trans QuantCrit. In a single-group study on gender binary students, I performed a structural equation model on how RSS engagement and campus climate measures influence students’ attitudes towards trans people, controlling for pre-college attitudes. The study’s findings argue that reflective interfaith engagement and perceptions of RSS campus divisiveness—that is not also experienced alongside negative discrimination based on one’s RSS identity—can contribute to more positive attitudes towards trans/NB people across all RSS groups (non-religious, RSS majority, and RSS minority). In a separate analysis, trans/NB students (N = 81) were analyzed using multiple regression looking at the same RSS campus climate measures and their relationship to trans/NB students feeling trans people are welcome on campus. In contrast to the gender binary group, reflective RSS experiences do not hold a relationship, but lower levels of discrimination and higher levels of perceived structural diversity influence their sense of DEBUNKING THE FALSE DICHOTOMY iii welcome on campus. Implications for theorists, researchers, and practitioners are discussed in relation to the application of Trans QuantCrit and the results of the study. Traditionally depicted as dichotomous, the intersection of RSS engagement and trans/NB people provides an opportunity for scholars and practitioners to foster greater inclusion for trans/NB people. DEBUNKING THE FALSE DICHOTOMY iv Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. x List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ xi Chapter I: Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Definition of Major Terms .............................................................................................. 5 Critical quantitative inquiry ........................................................................................ 5 Attitudes in campus climate ........................................................................................ 6 Intersectionality ........................................................................................................... 8 Trans/NB identity ........................................................................................................ 8 Religious, secular, and spiritual identity ..................................................................... 9 Statement of Problem .................................................................................................... 12 Study Significance ........................................................................................................ 14 Purpose ...................................................................................................................... 14 Practical implications ................................................................................................ 14 Research questions. ................................................................................................... 16 Knowledge creation. ................................................................................................. 16 Chapter II: Literature review ....................................................................................................... 20 Orientation into the Intersection ................................................................................... 20 Restating the critical theory informed framework. ................................................... 20 DEBUNKING THE FALSE DICHOTOMY v Pervasive challenges. ................................................................................................ 21 Similar and different to LGBQ+ and RSS intersections. .......................................... 21 RSS Affiliation and Association ................................................................................... 22 Unique challenges. .................................................................................................... 22 Possible supports. ...................................................................................................... 24 RSS Belief Systems ...................................................................................................... 24 Unique challenges. .................................................................................................... 24 Possible supports. ...................................................................................................... 27 Mental and Physical Health and Well-being ................................................................ 28 Unique challenges. .................................................................................................... 29 Possible supports ....................................................................................................... 29 Campus Climate ............................................................................................................ 31 Unique challenges. .................................................................................................... 32 Possible supports. ...................................................................................................... 37 Limitations and Future Directions ................................................................................ 39 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................. 39 Intersectionality ......................................................................................................... 40 Intergroup contact theory .......................................................................................... 41 Critical theory ........................................................................................................... 43 Social justice ally development ................................................................................ 44 DEBUNKING THE FALSE DICHOTOMY vi Trans kinship ............................................................................................................. 49 Critical consciousness ............................................................................................... 51 Proposed Framework .................................................................................................... 53
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