Negotiating identity: the construction and communication of a lesbigay existence

Abstract

The central goal of this research project is to explore the reflexive processes by which differing perceptions of identity are recognized and negotiated within the lesbigay community fostered by a gay and lesbian student organization. With regard to the varying perceptions of lesbigay identity, the study pays special heed to differences along gender lines and how the men and women negotiate their differences within the common space that they are "forced" to share. By actively trying to include lesbians and gay men alike, this community offers an instance of a unified community within which to explore the manner in which lesbians and gay men negotiate and manage their identities. The primary focus is on the processes by which individual members negotiate and perform their identities within the lesbigay community, rather than the product of the interaction between and among members. The term "negotiate" is used to indicate that the processes of identity formation are reflexive and interactive. The thesis is informed by a social constructionist framework that recognizes the complex, individualistic nuances of these individuals' roles, and employs an ethnographic approach (through in-depth interviewing) to understand the differing perceptions of lesbigay identity.