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Dissertation Information for Steven Joyce

NAME:
- Steven Joyce

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Western Ontario (Canada) (2004)

ADVISORS:
- Gloria Leckie

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Not_Inspected

Title: The discursive construction of lesbian, gay, and bisexual identity: How symbolic violence and information capital mediate the comingout process

Abstract: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths may be especially vulnerable to the imposition of homophobic and heterosexist discourses integrated within and spanning across larger hegemonic discourses including those of gender, medicine, and religion. Yet many LGB youths develop a strong sense of identity and go on to lead rich and meaningful lives. How do LGB youth, in the process of coming out, discursively construct and manage their identities in a predominantly heterosexist and homophobic society? What tactics and strategies of resistance do they employ, and how do they employ them? What forms of informational capital relevant to sexual orientation and/or sexuality do LGB youth acquire? How is access to various forms of informational capital facilitated or denied, and why does this occur?

In order to provide insight into such questions, I undertook a program of critical research in which I interviewed 31 LGB youths between the ages of 18 and 24: 16 male, 15 female. Interviews were in-depth and took the form of the topical life history. In all cases, participants were colonized, at least to some extent, by a symbolic violence that renders heterosexuality the only legitimate sexuality. Many drew on two interpretative repertoires in the construction and maintenance of identity: the "normal" gay who uncritically adopts heteronormative values, and who most participants positioned themselves as; and the "other" gay who adopts stereotypically gay attributes, and who most participants positioned themselves against. Many participants wished to assimilate into heterosexual society, but all resisted that society. The coming-out process was mediated by the acquisition of informational capital through religion and mass media representations of homosexuality, as well as the active seeking (or avoidance) of information.

MPACT Scores for Steven Joyce

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:26:56

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