Description:
Coming out is the process of acknowledging same-sex attractions to oneself and to others. It is both a personal and a public process. For many gay and bisexual students, college marks a pivotal point where for the first time they feel free to explore their same-sex attractions. This book is about the struggles students face in coming out. The focus is twofold: the experiences individuals face in coming to terms with their sexual identity and the process of developing a group identity. The development of a group identity involves a degree of political investment. For some students, becoming political means adopting a queer persona. As one student noted, Queer is kind of an `in your face' attitude toward heterosexism and homophobia. A primary focus of this book revolves around the notion of queer identity and how students engage as cultural workers seeking both campus and societal change.
Review Quotes: ..."clear, powerful, and poignant depictions of the struggles young college men face when coming to terms with their sexual identity. This study demonstrates how a theoretical approach designed to stimulate social change (i.e., critical postmodernism) can be used to enlighten and inspire its readers. It is encouraging to see a researcher use qualitative methodology to bring to light the narratives of people whose stories are often stifled."-The Journal of Sex Research