Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2008, Nursing

The increased risks for isolation, victimization, and other adverse behaviors for GLB persons are substantiated in the literature. Yet awareness of the struggles by those coming to terms with their alternative sexual identity is limited. The “self comfort” can be used to describe the desired state of those who have been successful in this adjustment process. This research centers on clarifying, defining, and exploring the measurement potential of an instrument based on the construct self-comfort. As a holistic construct, self-comfort is realized in physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural-political, and environmental contexts. As a dynamic construct, self-comfort is sensitive to change over time, given effective and repetitive nursing interventions. The attributes of the construct are autonomy, identity, relationship, and transcendence. When the attributes and contexts are juxtaposed, a 16-cell grid (taxonomic structure) is created to describe the content domain and guide the creation of the new instrument. This study focused on testing the instrument with 245 gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons. The internal consistency reliability for the 44 item Self-Comfort with Sexual Identity Questionnaire (SSIQ) was .917 (standardized). Ninety- three respondents (41.3%) were men and 132 (58.7%) women. Seventy-four (30%) individuals self-identified as being gay; 73 (29.8%) as lesbian; 49 (20%) as bisexual; and 17 (6.9%) were undeclared. Study data met the factorability criteria described by the Bartlett…#8482;s test of sphericity, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test (KMO), and Measures of sampling adequacy (MSA). A principal component analysis (PCA) method of extraction with a varimax rotation was completed. The number of factors was set at four to remain consistent with the theoretical framework for the study. Factors were extracted in 6 iterations with factor loadings <.40 being suppressed. Using the guidelines for item-to factor loadings in an orthogonal solution, loadings between (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kathleen Tusaie (Advisor) Subjects: Gender; Nursing

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2025, Psychology

LGB+ individuals may tolerate prejudice from religious/spiritual (R/S) institutions in hopes of deriving some potential benefits or comfort from these institutions. When LGB+ individuals encounter sexual prejudice in R/S settings, they may experience difficulty developing and maintaining a healthy sexual and R/S identity. Additionally, if LGB+ individuals internalize the negative messages about their sexual identity from R/S sources, they may experience significant discord and distress further challenging their ability to develop a healthy sexual and R/S identity. Consequently, the purpose of the current study was to examine if unsupportive R/S experiences predict greater identity self-discrepancies (i.e., actual-ideal and actual-ought) among LGB+ individuals who have heightened internalized homonegativity. Two hundred LGB+ individuals ages 18–76 completed measures to assess the conflict or comfort they derive from R/S sources, the discrepancies between their actual, ideal, and ought sexual and R/S identities, and their levels of internalized homonegativity. Results revealed that the more LGB+ individuals experienced religion/spirituality as a source of conflict, the greater their actual-ideal self-discrepancy. Additionally, the more LGB+ individuals experienced religion/spirituality as a source of comfort, the smaller their actual-ideal and actual-ought self-discrepancies—with these associations particularly strong when LGB+ individuals internalized negative messages about their sexual identity. Thus, especially for LGB+ individuals who have internalized negative messages about their sexual identity, experiencing religion/spirituality as a source of comfort may help reduce identity challenges (and work toward identity integration).

Committee: Tammy Sonnentag Ph.D. (Advisor); Jennifer Phillips Ph.D. (Committee Member); Cynthia Dulaney Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Glbt Studies; Psychology; Religion; Social Psychology; Spirituality

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2008, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2005, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2020, History (Arts and Sciences)

Betty Friedan and her landmark manifesto, "The Feminine Mystique," have a complex and challenging history. In 1963, the book roused countless women from domestic slumber, leading to the transformation of the social fabric of the United States. Despite the book's influence, much of Friedan's intellectual legacy, the core of which is identity, grounded in liberal, mid-century values, has been lost or forgotten. Fully understanding Friedan's ideas requires a fresh look at the historical and intellectual forces that shaped her thinking. Sigmund Freud, existentialism, humanist psychology, and mid-century liberalism all influenced Friedan and her vision for women's liberation from the “mystique.” Modern feminism, however, differs significantly from Friedan's original vision, detailed in "The Feminine Mystique." The feminist pursuit of identity eclipsed Friedan's liberal vision and prescription for gender equality, leading to divisive and illiberal consequences. "The Lost Legacy of Liberal Feminism" traces this development, following the thread of identity from the intellectuals who influenced Friedan, to the message of "The Feminine Mystique," to the birth of identity politics. Despite having begun as a movement intended to bridge gaps in the liberal democratic promise, by the end of the 1960s the women's movement took a troubling turn, contributing to the current state of identity politics that threatens the gender equality Friedan sought to achieve.

Committee: Kevin Mattson (Advisor); Chester Pach (Committee Member); Katherine Jellison (Committee Member); Julie White (Committee Member) Subjects: American History; American Studies; History; Womens Studies

PHD, Kent State University, 2018, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences

The purpose of this qualitative dissertation was to understand the narratives of gay male individuals who identify as Christian. Although some researchers have focused on conducting studies on religious topics and others on various aspects of the LGBTQ community, there remains a paucity of research that has examined the intersection of these elements for the field of counseling and their implications. Of the limited studies conducted in this combined area, most studies are conceptual in nature or based in quantitative research approaches. The rationale for this study was to capture the narratives of gay males who are Christian and discover themes through the analysis of semi-structured interviews. Therefore, the researcher sought to answer, “What are the narratives of gay males who have a Christian religious identity?” The participants were eight adult males who self-identified as gay, male, and Christian. A narrative analysis was conducted in order to gain, understand, and analyze salient narratives from participants. From this understanding gained through the participants' narratives, better programming, support, and educational opportunities all related to the professional field of counseling can be generated for gay Christian males.

Committee: Steve Rainey Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair); Cassandra Storlie Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair); Alicia Crowe Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Counseling Education

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2004, Higher Education

The purpose of this study was to explore the lives of gay students after they had come out in college, because most of the current research stops at the initial coming out experience. Specifically, this study sought to understand how gay students construct their sexual identity and how interactions influence the continuing construction of their sexual identity. D'Augelli's model of lesbian-gay-bisexual identity severed as the theoretical foundation for the study. The study employed a qualitative design. Data were collected through open-ended interviews with six gay college students, ages 19-22. Three themes emerged from a cross-case comparative data analysis: (a) continuous and distinct coming-out decisions, (b) expectations versus the reality of coming-out, and (c) integration of sexual identity into overall identity. Coming-out is not a one-time occurrence, but instead a dynamic process that has been, and continues to be, influenced by the variety of experiences. All participants arrived at college with certain preconceptions of college life. Coming-out introduced the participants to many new experiences and led participants to develop new expectations of college. Throughout their coming-out process, all participants began to integrate their gay identity into their overall identity; integration each participant attained varied. Results of this study led to four conclusions: (a) a person's cornerstone, an individual or group from whom affirmation was most desired, seems to have the most profound impact on continued identity development; (b) the size and culture of some colleges create additional identity challenges; (c) positive exposure to gay individuals and culture while growing up may impact the timing of a person's coming-out, and the speed and depth for identity integration; and (d) a seventh process may need to be added to D'Augelli's model. Results of this study have important implications for policy and practice. This study showed there is a strong need fo (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Penny Poplin Gosetti (Advisor) Subjects: Education, Higher

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2008, Counseling Psychology

The present study investigated associations among African American and same sex attracted identity developmental components, psychological well-being, difficult sexual situations, and sexual risk practices among a sample (N = 73) of HIV-positive African American men who have sex with men (MSMs). The current study responds to Mays, Cochran, and Zamudio's (2004) call for empirical investigations of culturally specific determinants impacting psychological health and sexual risk behaviors among African American MSMs. The current study parallels the methodology of Diaz, Ayala, and Bein (2004) and Diaz, Bein, and Ayala (2006), linking experiences of homophobia, racism, and poverty to psychological health and sexual risk practices among gay identified Latino men. Using a similar framework, the current study investigated the impact of African American and same sex attracted identity development on psychological health and sexual risk practices within a sample of African American HIV-positive MSMs. The current study's sample reported a diverse range of sexual identities (e.g., gay, heterosexual, “on the down low;”), with all participants having engaged in consensual sex with other men. Results indicated that higher endorsement of the Anti-White African American identity (as measured by the Cross Racial Identity Scale [CRIS, Vandiver et al., 2000]), as well as lower levels of psychological well-being, and younger ages, predicted circumstances promoting unsafe sex. Higher endorsements of the African American identities of Multiculturalist Inclusive and Miseducation, as well as the same sex attracted identity of Superiority (as measured by the Lesbian and Gay Identity Scale [LGIS; Mohr & Fassinger, 2000]), predicted interpersonal barriers to unsafe sex. Additional exploratory analyses showed higher endorsements of the same sex identity of Homonegativity to predict lower levels of psychological well-being; higher endorsements of the African American identity of Assimilation, an (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Charles Waehler Ph.D. (Advisor) Subjects: African Americans; Behaviorial Sciences; Demographics; Developmental Psychology; Gender; Health; Multicultural Education; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Public Health; Social Psychology

Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.), Franklin University, 2025, Health Programs

Patient demographics, health status information, and health history are essential data points to deliver complete and appropriate care. Patient data also includes sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), which informs providers about a patient's individual needs, improves quality of care, promotes health equity, and increases visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) community. SOGI is an essential health topic and it is an influencer of health status; however, discussing SOGI has historically been unrecognized or worse, disregarded. This study investigated the influencers of U.S. healthcare providers' collection and use of SOGI data and the recommendations to increase these behaviors, to address an existing research gap. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with experts in LGBTQ+ health, health policy, and health equity. A conceptual framework composed of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) Theory and the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) provided the research lens. A five-phase process was utilized for coding and data analysis. Four categorical and substantiated findings included data weaponization and data governance, the influence of organizational structuring, intersectionality of identities, and training and resources. The implications were both practical and theoretical. The four areas of practical implications were government and policy, organizations and programs, providers, and patients. The coalescence of the study design, conceptual framework, and data analysis process was innovative and contributed to the versatility of qualitative exploratory studies in healthcare.

Committee: Alyncia Bowen (Committee Chair); Gail Frankle (Committee Member); Lori Salgado (Committee Member) Subjects: Gender; Glbt Studies; Health; Health Care; Health Care Management

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2023, Antioch New England: Marriage and Family Therapy

This qualitative study aims to explore the unique experiences and challenges faced by Latino Caribbean cisgender gay men within their cultural and social contexts. Using focus group and thematic analysis, the researcher examines the narratives and perspectives of a diverse sample of Latino Caribbean cisgender gay men (n = 6) to gain insights into their sexual identity process, cultural influences, family dynamics, and support systems utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as the methodological framework. The researcher's findings highlight the themes of Awareness of Sexual Identity, Visibility Management, Spanish Caribbean Families' Influences, Being True to Oneself, and Positive Experiences & Role Models as key factors influencing the participants' experiences. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the intersections between sexual and cultural identities for Latino Caribbean cisgender gay men. The participants navigate the complex process of self-acceptance and disclosure while balancing cultural expectations and societal norms. The role of family and community support emerges as both a source of strength and potential challenge in their journeys of self-exploration and acceptance. The findings shed light on the need to research the sexual identity process for Caribbean LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and families within a social justice framework. These findings highlight the importance of creating inclusive spaces, promoting visibility, and providing culturally sensitive support services to address the unique needs of this population. And contribute to the existing literature on sexual identity development, cultural diversity, and family dynamics, and provide insights that can inform interventions, policies, and practices aimed at promoting the well-being and empowerment of Latino Caribbean LGBTQ+ individuals.

Committee: Kevin Lyness PhD, LMFT (Committee Chair); Markie Twist PhD, LMFT, LMHC, CSE (Committee Member); Alex Iantaffi PhD, MS, SEP, CST, LMFT (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Psychology; Behavioral Sciences; Black Studies; Caribbean Studies; Counseling Psychology; Families and Family Life; Gender; Gender Studies; Glbt Studies; Hispanic American Studies; Hispanic Americans; Latin American History; Latin American Studies; Mental Health; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Personal Relationships; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Social Research; Social Work; Therapy

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, History

For most of Soviet history, sex and sexuality were forbidden topics. The official state position was that sex was primarily a means to an end: the conception of future Soviet generations. The state enforced this hushed tenet by restricting discourses on sex in film, the press, and medical journals. However, Gorbachev's glasnost (“openness”) policy relaxed censorship and allowed Soviet people to explore the role of sex in society openly. Between 1986 and 1991, the USSR saw an unprecedented explosion of public discussions on sex and sexuality among journalists, filmmakers, medical clinicians, policy makers, activists, and others interested in the topic. Soviet researchers unearthed realities that the state had attempted to conceal, such as rampant prostitution, sexually transmitted disease (STDs), and high rates of sexual violence. This dissertation argues that a sexual revolution took place in the USSR between 1986 and 1991, due in large part to glasnost. The sexual revolution was mainly a discursive one, in which glasnost allowed journalists, artists, filmmakers, writers, academics, activists, and medical clinicians to publicly debate the terms of sexual citizenship through artistic depictions, medical and sociological studies, legislative decisions, news discourse, and independent publishing. However, the Soviet sexual revolution also brought about discernable changes in sexual behaviors and identities. Some people began to see sexual freedom as a vital aspect of a wider social and political liberation within Soviet society. And when they could not reconcile sexual liberation with the Soviet system, these people began to envision alternatives. Thus, my dissertation explores the Soviet sexual revolution and evaluates its form and function. I show throughout this project that sexual liberation and gender equality could not be achieved within the confines of the Soviet system. As many people, especially LGBT+ activists, came to believe (and express), liberation (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: David Hoffmann (Advisor); Nicholas Breyfogle (Advisor); Mytheli Sreenivas (Committee Member) Subjects: European History; Gender; Gender Studies; History; Russian History; Slavic Studies; World History

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2022, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

The aim of this study is to explore the ways in which LGBTQ+ people are affected by adverse or traumatic experiences related to religion or spirituality. Many LGBTQ+ adults were reared in environments where negative, disaffirming beliefs or teachings about sexual orientation or gender identity were pervasive. This study utilized a mixed-methods approach to data collection and analysis. Participants responded to a brief online survey, the data from which was used for quantitative statistical analysis. Twelve participants were selected at random from a pool of survey volunteers and took part in in-depth interviews regarding adverse religious experiences (AREs). Results of this study suggest that AREs are prevalent for LGBTQ+ individuals who grew up in religious or spiritual environments and that they have had significant psychosocial impacts on survivors. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed, as are directions for future research.

Committee: Roger Peterson PhD (Committee Chair); Susan Hawes PhD (Committee Member); Edward Porter Eagan PsyD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology; Religion

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2022, Sociology

Emotional support, particularly support from family and close friends, is essential to mental health outcomes especially for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the important role of emotional support especially for marginalized communities. Although emotional support is recognized as a critical resource, to date no research has examined access to support during the pandemic for gender and sexual diverse populations. I draw on a new population-based data source of 3,642 respondents, the National Couples' Health and Time Use Study (NCHAT), which oversampled sexual and gender diverse populations during the pandemic (September 2020-April 2021). I focus on two sources of emotional support: family members and friends. Respondents who identified as exclusively heterosexual relied more on emotional support from family than respondents who identified as exclusively gay/lesbian, bisexual including pan, omni, and queer, and those reporting another sexual identity or multiple sexual identities. However, respondents who did not identify as heterosexual relied more on emotional support from friends compared to exclusively heterosexual respondents. There were no significant differences among respondents who identity as sexual minorities in regard to family or friend support. This work contributes to understanding of the social climate and resources available to sexual and diverse populations during a major public health crisis.

Committee: Wendy Manning Ph.D. (Advisor); Monica Longmore Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kei Nomaguchi Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2021, Antioch New England: Marriage and Family Therapy

Utilizing an arts-based feminist autoethnographic stance and method, this dissertation is an evocative exploration of the process and experience of attempting to develop a cohesive identity and build a secure attachment to the self. The author uses countercultural methods—prioritizing and centralizing her experience and uncovering and acting in defiance of oppressive norms—to identify and experience their impact on her identity and intra- and inter- personal relationships. Various tensions are explored, including the suppression of self and desire, self-objectification, fearful-avoidant attachment, and shame; and their influence on engaging in emotional and sexual intimacy is examined. Critique on the role of female socialization—especially caretaking and objectification—and research on undermining women's power, identity, and self-advocacy are presented. The effects of culture, feminism, monogamy, and ethical non-monogamy on the experience of a middle-aged woman is highlighted. The use and experience of creativity, nature, shamanic practices, interpersonal experimentation, and autoethnography in accepting and moving through fear is also presented. Implications and tools to develop a more empowered and cohesive identity, attachment to the self, exploring intimacy, and conscious relationships; and guidance on overcoming self-objectification, dysfunctional relationship patterns, projection, and denial are included for therapists as well as individuals and their partners, family, and friends.

Committee: Denzel Jones PhD (Advisor); Kevin Lyness PhD (Committee Member); Dana Riger PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Aging; Counseling Psychology; Families and Family Life; Gender Studies; Individual and Family Studies; Personal Relationships; Psychotherapy; Social Psychology; Spirituality; Therapy; Womens Studies

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2021, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Criminal Justice

Previous research has examined the overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile court; scholars have also found that lesbian, gay, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+), along with gender non-conforming youth are overrepresented in the juvenile legal system. Literature suggests that youth with multiple marginalized identities, especially youth of color in the LGBTQ+ community, are exposed to more punitive treatment in the legal system. This study aims to examine the intersection of race/ethnicity and sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE) in the juvenile legal system and aims to gain a better understanding of how the juvenile court responds to youth. This study uses one year of data from one large Midwestern juvenile court's data management system from all youth entering the court that have provided SOGIE information (n = 1,208). This study examines the effect of race/ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation on court processing outcomes. Findings indicate that youth with multiple marginalized identities may receive harsher treatment than non-marginalized youth. LGBTQ+ and/or GNC youth, Black youth, and boys were more likely to be placed in the official system than straight, cisgender, and GC youth, white youth, and girls. LGBTQ+ and/or GNC youth, Black youth, and girls were more likely to be given a mental health referral; however, when MASYI-2 scales are added to the model, Angry Irritable (AI), Depressed-Anxious (DA), and Suicide Ideation (SI) scales were of the main predictors of mental health referral, with the strongest predictor being Suicide Ideation. Girls were more likely than boys to receive delinquent adjudication and results suggest that gender identity may moderate the relationship between race/ethnicity and adjudication outcome. These results have implications for future research, practice, and policy within the juvenile legal system.

Committee: Valerie Anderson Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Christina Campbell Ph.D. (Committee Member); Joshua Cochran Ph.D. (Committee Member); Angela Irvine-Baker Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Criminology

Doctor of Nursing Practice, Mount St. Joseph University , 2021, Department of Nursing

Hospitals are collecting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SO/GI) data through the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Although the SO/GI data is aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patient (CDC, 2019), intersex (I) is also an option in the EHR. While healthcare training exists for the LGBT population, nurses lack focused clinical training and cultural competency for the intersex/Differences of Sex Development (DSD) patient. Nurse education was implemented using a PowerPoint during Lunch-and-Learn sessions. Two questionnaires were administered pre-and post-education, a clinical knowledge survey, and a validated Health Belief Attitudes Instrument Survey (HBAS). Nineteen nurses attended the education sessions. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare survey data. Before receiving education, 53% of healthcare workers surveyed for this project reported never having heard the term DSD and 58% didn't know intersex was not the same thing as transgender. There were significantly improved knowledge scores after the education (median = 3 correct) compared to before the education (median = 1 correct), Z=-3.62, p=0.0003. The percent of nurses who had heard the term DSD increased from 47% pre-education to 100% post-education. Nurses' scores on a DSD/intersex knowledge assessment increased from 33% pre-education to 100% post-education. Finally, nurses' Health Belief Attitudes Instrument scores significantly increased from pre-education (M = 4.65, SD = 0.68) to post-education (M = 4.94, SD = 0.66), p = .017. Qualitative feedback supported the need for this project. This work will complement the existing SO/GI material in the hospital with the goal of enhancing patient outcomes for patients with DSDs/intersex conditions.

Committee: Nancy Hinzman (Advisor) Subjects: Cultural Anthropology; Curriculum Development; Gender Studies; Genetics; Health Care; Nursing

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ohio University, 2021, History

In this thesis, I will explore the three main roles that women played in the Yugoslav Wars of 1991-2001: perpetrator, bystander, and victim. Through examining these roles, I hope to draw an equal amount of attention to each of these roles and add new insight to current scholarly discourse on this subject. Furthermore, examining women in Yugoslavia will also reveal how gender influences modern conflicts, especially regarding sexual violence and the justice system. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that women, whether perpetrators, bystanders, or victims, experienced the war differently from men because of gender norms, because women were symbols of the nation, and because the identity of womanhood and their physical differences made them especially vulnerable to sexual violence. Furthermore, the Yugoslav Wars served as a turning point for understanding and prosecution of wartime rape, with the international community finally recognizing it as an intentional, organized strategy and as a crime against humanity. After examining primary documents from the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, reading first-person accounts, listening to interviews from witnesses and participants, and consulting a wide variety of secondary and tertiary sources, I hope this project will prove useful not only to researchers hoping to better understand the Yugoslav Wars, but also those seeking to understand the gender dynamics of conflict and the crucial role of identity politics in modern warfare.

Committee: Steven Miner Dr. (Advisor); Miriam Shadis Dr. (Advisor) Subjects: European Studies; History; Political Science

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2019, Psychology/Clinical

Research on the experiences of students with marginalized identities has primarily focused on one marginalized identity at a time. Intersectional frameworks provide a context for centering the experiences of students with multiple marginalized identities. Few studies exist that examine the experiences of low-income, first-generation, sexual minority students. The present qualitative study examined first-person accounts of 16 undergraduate and graduate low-income, first-generation, sexual minority students. Participants completed individual semi-structured interviews in which they described the development of their sexual orientation identity, their first-generation college status, their adjustment and integration into the university community, and nature of their relationships with family, friends, and members of the university community. Using a grounded theory framework, student accounts described a variety of ways that they felt different from peers and family as they navigated the university with limited economic, social, and cultural capital. Students described institutional barriers related to their struggle to find a sense of belonging that stemmed from both their first-generation status and their LGBTQ identities. Students identified pride in their personal growth and accomplishments as students and identified people who have supported them throughout their academic journeys. Implications of study findings for research, clinical practice, and academic institutional change are discussed.

Committee: Catherine Stein Ph.D. (Advisor); Kit Chan Ph.D. (Other); Dryw Dworsky Ph.D. (Committee Member); Dara Musher-Eizenman Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Glbt Studies; Higher Education; Psychology; Social Psychology; Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2019, History

This dissertation is an investigation of the imperial racialized and gendered origins of surveillance culture. It is primarily an interrogation of the British Empire's methods and justifications for measures taken to maintain imperial control in the colonial Caribbean. The main subjects of this study are women that migrated from India to the Trinidad during the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but their story is told within the context of the larger history of the Caribbean. This dissertation is significant because the patterns revealed extend far beyond these subjects, geographical locations, and this historical period of time. This dissertation shows how white colonialists employed racialized and gendered language in their justifications for the establishment of imperial surveillance practices. They created government systems, customs, and laws along with hegemonic attitudes of white superiority that led to unfair and unregulated discriminatory practices against individuals of color. Discussions regarding the physical, sexual, and reproductive labor of women of color dominated white colonial male discourse from the rise of the transatlantic slave system to the present day. Discriminatory language and its accompanying arguments became so deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of the colonized people that, in places like the Caribbean where groups of diverse ethnic origin converged, much of that rhetoric persisted beyond the colonial era. The scope of this dissertation ends in the 1960s, just as colonies such as Jamaica and Trinidad gained their independence from Britain, and the research shows that in the power struggle for the emergent nation, men who identified as AfroCaribbean and IndoCaribbean used the same systemic racialization and gendered language to try to assert their own dominance over one another and over the female inhabitants of the region. Through an examination of mid-twentieth-century music, poetry, street fights, custom (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: A. Martin Wainwright Ph.D. (Advisor); Martha Santos Ph.D. (Committee Member); Stephen Harp Ph.D. (Committee Member); Maria Zanetta Ph.D. (Committee Member); Timothy Scarnecchia Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Caribbean Studies; European History; History; Latin American History; Modern History; Womens Studies; World History

Master of Social Work, The Ohio State University, 2019, Social Work

There is a lack of research on the resilience experiences of non-binary survivors (NBS) of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault. The primary aim of this study is to highlight the resilience experiences of NBS from their own knowledge, experiences and perceptions related to exploring identities, experiences with trauma, coping mechanisms and social support. NBS (N = 5) participated in an in-depth semi-structured interview. Data was analyzed using Atlas.ti, a qualitative data analysis software. The findings highlight the resilience experiences of NBS and the need for affirming spaces as non-binary people and as survivors. Implications for social workers, agencies, support services, policy change and future research are discussed. An affirming space focusing on resilience is highly recommended to bridge the gap between service systems and NBS and to help NBS find new ways of healing.

Committee: Cecilia Mengo (Advisor); Sharvari Karandikar (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Work; Womens Studies