VOICES UNHEARD: USING INTERSECTIONALITY TO UNDERSTAND IDENTITY AMONG SEXUALLY MARGINALIZED UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE STUDENTS OF COLOR Elizabeth Irene Ann (Annie) Russell A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May 2012 Committee: Dr. Dafina Lazarus Stewart, Advisor Dr. Kimberly Coates Graduate Faculty Representative Dr. Ellen Broido Dr. Patricia Kubow ii ABSTRACT Dr. Dafina Lazarus Stewart, Advisor This study used intersectionality as a framework and methodology to understand identity among sexually marginalized undergraduate college students of color. The research questions were as follows: 1. What are the experiences of QLGBTSGL (Queer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Same Gender Loving) undergraduate students of color on a college campus? How do QLGBTSGL undergraduate students of color perceive their college experiences to be different from and similar to other students in college? 2. How do environmental factors (e.g., spiritual community, society, family, student organizations, and support groups) affect identity development for QLGBTSGL undergraduate students of color in college? 3. How do interpersonal relationships, such as those with friends, family, and romantic partners, influence identity development for QLGBTSGL undergraduate students of color in college? 4. How do QLGBTSGL undergraduate students of color make meaning of their identities? In what ways do identity consistency and coherence characterize their identity meaning- making? The literature implied that while substantial research has been done in identity and identity development in student affairs, including in race, gender, sexuality, and environment, the intersections and interactions of those identities had been less explored in research, if at all. The iii findings produced three emerging themes related to the unheard voices of the population at hand: defining self; intersections and interactions of identities and social group memberships; and defining ethics, morals, and values. The conclusions and implications both confirm previous findings on identity and identity development, while also acknowledging new areas of knowledge, implications for practice, and suggestions for future research. iv For Dusty and Danny, the two parents who made unconditional love and ultimate belief in a child the reality of my life. I love you more than I could ever express. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” – Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you to the pioneers of every rights-oriented movement in the history of this nation and the world. I have found my life’s calling and passion in the words, wisdom, and work of people like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, Harvey Milk, Audre Lorde, and the list goes on. Your worldly sacrifices, including your lives, for the cause of eradicating oppression speaks to my soul. I can only hope to continue to hear God’s word for my purpose through your groundbreaking work. Thank you to the powerful women of my committee – Dr. Ellen Broido, Dr. Kimberly Coates, and Dr. Patty Kubow, your suggestions and guidance helped make this a much better product. Dr. Dafina Stewart, you’ve been here for the bulk of my education and all of my integration into higher education and student affairs – we have a long history and I’ve learned more than I could ever relay in that time. Thank you for your ideas, support, challenge, and mentoring. Thanks to all of you Dr. Women for inspiring and believing in me. Thank you to the participants in this study. You made this happen. It’s yours more than anyone else’s. I can’t thank you enough for your willingness to be a part of this journey and share a piece of yourselves with me and the world. We are forever grateful for your gift. Thank you to the LGBTQA students at BGSU. You supplied me with endless love, work, laughter, tears, successes, challenges, and triumphs. Through it all, I learned more than I ever have, loved in larger capacities than I imagined, and watched a community grow in ways that I never expected. It was my honor and privilege to be invited to share in such special and vi memorable pieces of your lives. Special thanks to Austin Williams (my baby), Aris Kaleps- Clark (my pussycat), JP Gordon, Bre Patman, Eric Sowers, and Jess Tucker – you all touched my life in a special way and I will always remember you. Thank you to my friends who have been constant in their love and sharing this journey of life. Andrea (Krukowski) Hoppenjans, I know that you get me where no others do and I can call on you for anything – you’re my poops forever. Leslie Jo Shelton, your ideas, excitement, and genuine “ride or die” nature are forever a part of my heart – cappy and skippy fa life, yo. Steven Krzanowski, while I was at BGSU, I was fortunate to find my male counterpart in many aspects of work, life, and play and that man was you – whether we’re laughing or crying, I look forward to a lifetime more. Rob Koob, you have truly become my closest friend and confidant in the last year and I am continually thankful for our BFF status – your constant support, reading, transcribing, listening, and polar pop supplier role kept me sane through the waning months of dissertation work. You know this wouldn’t have happened without your help. Thank you to the amazing woman that joined me through much of my journey to a doctoral degree – Shevonne Nelson. You listened, you laughed, you pushed, you yelled, you held me to and pulled me out of the fire. I love you. Thank you for everything you’ve added to my life. My cohort, my cohort, my cohort. One thing is certain. I absolutely never in life would have made it one second in this program or on this journey without the constant love and support of my cohort. I love you all so much, it hurts sometimes – but in a good way. Kacee Ferrell Snyder, thank you for never being my oppressor and always being a smart ass. Kimberly Martin, swing low, sweet chariot and find your way home. Michelle Rodems, you are truly the most genuinely loving and caring person I have ever known – my heart is full because of your spirit. vii Jared Tuberty, you’ll always be my Ann Cova. Thank you all for helping me learn more, be better, and finish this elephant one bite at a time (Rob Snyder is my favorite heterosexual, married, male partner in all the world, while Tucker is my favorite nephew). My family has been the most constant support, love, and guidance in my life. Thank you to the generations of female family members who I was not able to know, but for whom I was named and who had the strength to endure many life trials – Grandmas Elizabeth and Anne. To Grandma Russell and Pop, thank you for your solid presence, grounding, and foundation of family in my life; you taught me many of my values. To my aunts, uncles, and cousins on both the Russell and Warner sides, you have all meant the world to me and I thank you for a lifetime of memories made and those yet to be fulfilled. To my dad, you are the superman of my world and always have been. Without your constant love, humor, and diligent lessons in morality, I would have never become the woman that you have helped me to be. Last, but always first in my heart and life, thank you to my mom. I lost your physical presence on this earth less than two months before this doctoral journey began. I wasn’t sure I could do it without you, but I was damn sure gonna try, lest you come back to kick my behind. This has been the most difficult trek in my life without you, but I have found a way to hear your voice and see your presence all around me. Thank you for never letting me question my abilities and for giving me the strength to endure, as the women in our family have for generations. You were right. I would always know what you would say and how you would feel. I look to the skies for the rainbows and drops of rain that indicate how proud you are… and I cherish them every time. I miss you every day, but I promise to live life to the fullest until we’re together again. ““If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” – Harvey Milk viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION OF THE PROBLEM ....................................................... 1 Background of the Problem ...................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................... 3 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................ 3 Research Questions ................................................................................................... 4 Significance of and Rationale for the Study .............................................................. 5 Definition of Terms ................................................................................................... 7 Delimitations ............................................................................................................ 11 Role of the Researcher ............................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ......................................................................