<p> Within a framework of intersectionality, this thesis explores the multidimensional experiences women of color have in abusive same-sex relationships. It also explores the tremendous influence those experiences have on their lives. Although intimate partner violence (IPV) in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community has become increasingly visible within the past two decades, media and scholarship continue to focus on heterosexual incidents of domestic violence. Relying on the powerful narratives of four women of color who are IPV survivors, I examine social constructs such as familial violence, homophobia, racism, and poverty, that contribute to lesbian intimate partner violence. I also present reasons for and consequences of staying in an abusive relationship. The findings of this study indicate that intimate partner violence is a symptom of oppression for socially marginalized lesbians of color and not a source.</p><p>

<p> The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the unique sexual and religious identity development of sexual minorities who attend evangelical Christian institutions of higher education. Although research exists on sexual identity development and religious identity development, scant research exists as to how these developmental areas interact in sexual minorities who attend evangelical institutions of higher education. The research questions that were answered in this study included the following: How do sexual minority students at evangelical Christian institutions of higher education develop a sexual identity and make choices about sexual expression? How do sexual minority students at evangelical Christian institutions of higher education develop a religious identity? How do these two developmental areas interact in this population? </p><p> Four individuals who identified as sexual minorities were interviewed for this study. Interviews were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis to understand the lived experiences of the participants. The data analysis led to the following emergent themes: <i>evangelical beliefs/narratives about homosexuality, new understanding of faith, current faith development, the closet, coded language, community, romantic relationships, current meaning of sexual identity, intersectional identities, evangelical college culture, vigilance, advocacy, and academic/artistic expression.</i> These themes highlighted how inextricably linked are sexual and religious identity development in this population. Also highlighted were how the individuals resolved their identity conflict with great difficulty but also as empowered changed agents. Clinical and educational applications of the research were also discussed.</p><p>

<p> <i>Photography in the First Person</i> offers an alternative account of postmodernism in American art during the 1970s and `80s by examining the work of five photographers. Robert Mapplethorpe. Peter Hujar, Nan Goldin and Sally Mann, who are united, not by circumstance, style or acquaintance, but rather by how each one of them used aspects of their personal lives as subject matter, whether it was their friends, lovers, families or children. Collectively their art explores many of the same themes as that of the Pictures Generation, but is structurally opposite to it. Where the Pictures artists appropriated images from popular culture in order to demonstrate how identities were not given or natural, but were discursively and institutionally constructed, the practitioners of what I call photography in the first person set their sights on the ostensibly neutral viewer predicated by these same discourses and institutions&mdash;a viewer who is invariably male, white and heterosexual. Through a series of four case studies, it is shown how each of the aforementioned artists used the medium of photography and the specific contours of their personal lives through strategies of excess and indeterminacy to establish a different ethical stance towards the work of art. from one of detachment to one that forces us to consider our own bodies, desires and identifications. </p><p>

<p> Addressing the Development of Selves in LGBTQIA+ Individuals: A Voice Dialogue Perspective by Melanie Battaglia Moir This qualitative thesis combines heuristic and alchemical hermeneutic methodologies along with elements of intuitive inquiry and participatory epistemology to address the internal development of selves in the consciousness of LGBTQIA+ individuals. These selves are created by interactions with family and society and by the unique, personal experiences of people on this spectrum who do not identify as heteronormative or exclusively heterosexual. From a depth psychological perspective, the author discusses implications for achieving healing and wholeness when making contact with these inner selves that carry the true nature of each human being but are repressed due to cultural programming, family modeling, and imprinting. Voice Dialogue is explored as an approach to identifying and understanding these selves in LGBTQIA+ individuals. Insights from the author&rsquo;s own experience of being <i>queer</i> (an umbrella term for living life as a sexual or gender minority) are included.</p><p>

<p> When marriage equality became legal in 2015, more gay men started getting married. With minimal research on qualities leading to perceived marital success, mental health professionals could not offer guidance on strengthening marital satisfaction for these couples. Further, gay men had few gay role models for marital success to provide guidance and insights. To help address this lack of research, this dissertation focused on how gay men fostered marital success. </p><p> In this study, constructivist grounded theory was utilized to flexibly examine and analyze the qualities that lead to perceived marital success for eight married gay men from across the United States. Two rounds of interviews were conducted to gather narrative data and distinguish categories and properties that captured the success characteristics identified through participants lived experiences. </p><p> Findings indicate that gay men feel successful when their relationship needs and feelings of belongingness are satisfied, and they have the ability to dexterously apply relationship skills to build a strong relationship framework while working as a team to overcome potential barriers. Parenting, feelings of security, and negotiating sexual agreements were important relationship experiences for these couples. </p><p> Mental health professionals who are looking to help married gay men should consider the individual histories, environmental supports available, communication style, and the dyadic aspirations for these couples. Future research should focus on ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, and researchers should investigate marital success for couples whose marriages were not preceded by ceremonial commitments or legally binding partnerships. These parameters would expand the scope of generalizability.</p><p>

<p> Culture and social norms influence sex roles and expression, according to previous studies. This leads to the research question of whether there a difference in sex-role characteristics and generational category among cisgender American adults from Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. A gap in the research about sex-role evolution in generational and cultural shifts provided an open opportunity for this investigation to strengthen the literature. Data collection without making any changes or introducing any treatments was employed, via quantitative non-experimental means, using survey methodology. The population consisted of cisgender American adults from Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. SurveyMonkey Audience was used to sample the population, through participant inclusion criteria outlined as being aged 18 to 50 years, a U.S. citizen, and identifying as cisgender, and able to read and understand English. The self-perceived sex-role characteristics of three generational groups (Generations X, Y, &amp; Z) were analyzed, employing a quantitative non-experimental design to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference between group means. Results concluded that a statistically significant difference was found for the interaction of generation and self-identified sex for both masculinity and femininity. Continuing research in this area will ensure that extending the body of knowledge of evolutionary psychology will enable the social support systems to allow for more flexibility in relation to socially dictated norms. Additionally, governing bodies, mental health workers, and medical professionals would benefit from more thorough and sensitive gender identity training.</p><p>

<p> In using the qualitative method of grounded theory, data was collected from 10 individuals who identified as Black, lesbian teachers from across the United States. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to generate an idea of a new model or refine an existing model that explained the process of developing career and professional identity. In-depth interviews were completed, via in-person and secure video-conferencing. Field observations with field notes and member checking were utilized as tools for maintaining the study&rsquo;s validity. The core themes identified were (a) self-identity versus professional identity, (b) support, (c) trust, and (d) awareness. The subthemes were teachers versus school dynamics and honesty. These findings support the notion that Black lesbians were equipped as any teacher with the tools and knowledge to do their jobs just as effectively as their nonheterosexual counterparts. The findings also found that the more support this population received from their families and communities, there was a positive correlation between increased reports of career and life satisfaction, job efficiency, and productivity. With results from this research, these findings can further assist clinicians, work organizations, and educational policies in aiding to empower career success in Black, lesbian, teachers, their students, as well as other teachers who might be ethnically diverse or nonheterosexual.</p><p>

<p> Researchers and theorists have generally included drag queens and transgender (trans*) populations together in their scholarship, and have paid little attention to how these populations may differ. Such sampling practices may lead to a variety of misleading assumptions about both drag and transgender populations. For one thing, researchers have pointed to higher rates of gender dysphoria and depression among trans* individuals, but the same may not be the case among drag queens. In order to add greater clarity to similarities and differences between these populations, a gender dysphoria questionnaire, depression inventory, and work involvement inventory were administered to a sample of gay and bisexual, cisgender male drag queens. Descriptive statistics from these measures represent the first step toward establishing rates of depression and gender dysphoria among drag queens. Mean comparisons of rates of depression and gender dysphoria between gay/bisexual male cisgender drag queens and male-to-female transgender persons indicate significant differences between these populations. When level of involvement in drag was considered, a small positive correlation was found with depression while a small negative correlation was found with gender dysphoria. Results indicate that drag queens are less depressed and experience considerably less gender dysphoria than transgender individuals. Furthermore, gender dysphoria may decrease as involvement in drag performance increases. This data may add clarity to research on gender diversity, support efforts to de-pathologize drag performance, and reduce stigma associated with drag in general. Implications for future research and for mental health treatment are discussed.</p><p>

<p> Over the past five years, American public opinion on homosexuality has rapidly shifted in a more positive direction. Its subjugation exemplifies how an intimate and singular topic can be used to ignite and potentially misguide the American people, resulting in violent demonstration and even death. Although public opinion has shifted towards a greater acceptance of homosexuality, viewpoints are still very polarized. In addition to the available literature, elements from the complete data set of the General Social Survey (1972&ndash;2014) were analyzed to better understand this polarization that persists. Subject-specific variables concerning homosexuality were extrapolated and simple Ordinary Least Squares regression models were tested using STATA version SE 12.1. The evidence gathered supports this thesis&rsquo; assertion that Snyder&rsquo;s theory of hope, when applied to the topic of homosexuality, provides a uniquely useful and alternative lens through which to explain the polarization of current public opinion about homosexuality in America.</p><p>

<p> Most research on body image and disordered eating has focused largely on women, as women are at higher risk than men for eating disorders. In recent years research has revealed that men are at increasing risk for these outcomes, especially as the ideal male body represented in media images and therefore frequently internalized among men is becoming so lean and muscular as to make it very difficult for most men to realistically achieve. Sexual minority men in particular have been found to be at increased risk for body dissatisfaction, body shame, and disordered eating than their heterosexual counterparts. The research on sexual minority men, however, is in the beginning stages and it is unclear to date how and why body dissatisfaction and eating pathology may be systematically different in this population in comparison to heterosexual men. The current study sought to investigate mediating and moderating factors into the relationship between sexual orientation, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating. Sexual minority men (<i>n</i> = 112) reported higher levels of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating than heterosexual men (<i>n</i> = 242). Contrary to hypotheses, integration into gay culture was not related to the outcome variables, nor were appearance conversations. Also contrary to hypotheses, exercise motivations were similar in both groups of men, with the exception that heterosexual men were more likely to report exercising for the purpose of competition. Implications and possible directions for future research are discussed.</p><p>