Negotiating lesbian and queer identities in midwestern young adults

Laura C. (Ryan) Plis, Purdue University

Abstract

The purpose of this ethnographic project was to investigate the ways that Midwestern lesbian and queer “emerging adults” negotiated their identities within their cultural context. There are five main sexual and gender identities considered in this thesis: feminine lesbians, androgynous lesbians, genderqueer individuals, “skater punk” individuals, and transgender or transmale individuals. This thesis pays special attention to the influences of their period of life, “emerging adulthood,” their family life growing up, and the influence of role models as well as the media. Gendered and sexual identities were the main focus of the interview questions and consequently the main focus of this thesis.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Blackwood, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Cultural anthropology|GLBT Studies|Gender studies

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