Who Am I? The LGBTQ+ Student Experience during Study Abroad This dissertation takes an in-depth look at the unique experiences of five Florida State University study abroad alumni who self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer after their experiences overseas. The purpose of this research was to understand if study abroad played a role in participants’ sexual identity formation. To examine participants’ lived experiences, this research used a qualitative life history approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews. Results revealed two prominent themes: first, participants grew up feeling loved but not accepted; and second, study abroad provided an environment for students to “reinvent” themselves. Overall, this research illustrates that complex, emotional experiences such as studying in a foreign country can lead to a heightened awareness about one’s identity and sexual orientation. This study has implications for study abroad faculty and staff who may be exposed to students questioning their sexual orientation. Keywords: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, sexual identity development, study abroad experience / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education. / Spring Semester 2019. / January 30, 2019. / LGBTQ+, Sexual Identity Development, Study Abroad / Includes bibliographical references. / Ayesha Khurshid, Professor Directing Dissertation; Steve McDowell, University Representative; Robert A. Schwartz, Committee Member; Stephanie Zuilkowski, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_709823 |
| Contributors | Schoenberger, Lauren Keely (author), Khurshid, Ayesha (Professor Directing Dissertation), McDowell, Stephen D. (University Representative), Schwartz, Robert A. (Committee Member), Zuilkowski, Stephanie Simmons (Committee Member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Education (degree granting college), Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, doctoral thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (105 pages), computer, application/pdf |
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