Bobbi Van Gilder

Cultural (in)visibility and identity dissonance: Queer Iranian-American women and their negotiation of existence

ABSTRACT This qualitative study explores the narratives of 12, first-generation, queer, Iranian-American women to understand (a) how Iranian cultural, familial, and relational discourses influence feelings of “belonging” for queer Iranian-American women, and (b) how queer Iranian-American women cope with the challenges of being both LGBTQ and Iranian-American. Online interviews were analyzed using grounded theory analysis, revealing that queer Iranian-American women experience feelings of cultural isolation as a result of the homosexual identity delegitimization that is often perpetuated within the Iranian community. Participants cope by creating cultural distance between themselves and the Iranian community when they experience this isolation.

Coping with Sexual Identity Stigma in the U.S. Military: An Examination of Identity Management Practices Prior to and After the Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

ABSTRACT This study assesses the identity management strategies employed by gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in the U.S. military prior to and after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In-depth interviews were conducted with gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members and veterans. Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Findings revealed that these service members made thoughtful and deliberate decisions about whether or not, and to whom, they would reveal their sexual identities. Identity concealment was practiced most often, even after the repeal, which was found to incite feelings of self-reproach, isolation, and stress. However, several new identity management strategies emerged after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (i.e., strategies of openness) that stimulated positive self-feelings. By engaging in some level of openness, participants in this study were able to overcome some of the adverse effects of their minority stress.ABSTRACTThis study assesses the identity management strategies employed by gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in the U.S. military prior to and after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In-depth interviews were conducted with gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members and veterans. Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Findings revealed that these service members made thoughtful and deliberate decisions about whether or not, and to whom, they would reveal their sexual identities. Identity concealment was practiced most often, even after the repeal, which was found to incite feelings of self-reproach, isolation, and stress. However, several new identity management strategies emerged after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (i.e., strategies of openness) that stimulated positive self-feelings. By engaging in some level of openness, participants in this study were able to overcome some of the adverse effects of their minority stress.

Polygamy in the United States: How Marginalized Religious Communities Cope with Stigmatizing Discourses Surrounding Plural Marriage

This study explores the narratives of 20 members of “The Work,” a polygamist community in Centennial Park, Arizona, to better understand the ways in which religious minorities cope with the stigmatizing discourses of the larger United States culture. This paper examines (a) how participants understand and interpret public discourse surrounding plural marriage, and (b) participants’ communicative strategies for coping with this stigma. Grounded theory analysis revealed that the discursive cultural de-legitimation of plural marriage motivates co-cultural members to engage in network management. Four network management strategies were reported by participants: (1) withdrawing from mainstream society, (2) establishing ingroup solidarity, (3) concealing cultural identification, and (4) educating cultural outsiders.

Taking Conflict Personally and the Use of the Demand/Withdraw Pattern in Intraethnic Serial Arguments

This paper examines the association between taking conflict personally and the use of the demand/withdraw pattern in intraethnic serial arguments. Asian-Americans (n = 172), African-Americans (n = 185), Caucasians (n = 224), and Hispanics (n = 124) living in the United States reported about arguments with another member of their ethnic group. Results revealed some ethnicity differences concerning the perceived positive effects of conflict on relationships and reliance on the self-demand/other-withdraw interaction pattern. Differences, though, were relatively small. Results also revealed that similar dimensions of taking conflict personally predicted the use of the demand/withdraw pattern across the four groups, with persecution feelings being a particularly strong predictor. Strength of ethnic identity had different effects on the self-demand/other- withdraw interaction pattern for Asian-Americans and Hispanics. These results are detailed, and implications for the study of serial arguments are discussed.

Identity Management and the Fostering of Network Ignorance: Accounts of Queer Iranian Women in the United States

This qualitative study explores the narratives of 12, first-generation, queer, Iranian-American women in an attempt to better understand the experiences of being both Iranian and queer, and to explore the various ways participants manage their sexual identities within their ethnic communities. Online interviews were analyzed using grounded theory analysis, which revealed that shame anxiety motivates the fostering of network ignorance. Feelings of fear and guilt, which together cultivate shame anxiety, motivate the identity management strategies of queer Iranian women as they attempt to foster ignorance of their sexual orientation within the Iranian community. Strategies include (co)-covering, deceiving and passing, and avoiding.

Modeling Serial Argument Goals, Tactics, and Their Effects on Arguers’ Satisfaction in the Case of Three Ethnic Groups in the United States

Abstract This manuscript reports research investigating the serial argument process model in the case of Asians/Asian-Americans, Blacks/African-Americans, and Caucasians/European-Americans (N = 581). Individuals’ goals in serial arguments were connected to the tactics they reported using to accomplish their goals, and, further, to any changes in their relational satisfaction following an argument. The study also examined the influence of one’s strength of ethnic identity on this process. A structural equation model incorporating these relationships was tested for each group. Results provided adequate support for the models proposed. The discussion details the dynamics of the serial argument process model for each ethnic group.

Femininity as Perceived Threat to Military Effectiveness: How Military Service Members Reinforce Hegemonic Masculinity in Talk

This study examined the discursive practices of military service members that work to reinforce hegemonic masculinity and heteronormativity in talk. Additionally, this study investigated how women ...This study examined the discursive practices of military service members that work to reinforce hegemonic masculinity and heteronormativity in talk. Additionally, this study investigated how women and nonheterosexual men, discursively contest their ascribed subordinate status within the military. Interviews were conducted with 29 military service members and veterans. Findings revealed that hegemonic masculinity and heteronormativity were reinforced through discursive positioning, whereby military service members positioned the feminine other as a threat to military effectiveness. Those who were cast as feminine others, then, worked within and against this dominant discourse to assert themselves as effective members of the military organization.

Sexual Orientation Stigmatization and Identity Work for Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals in the U.S. Military

This study examines communicative stigmatization processes and their influence on self-concept clarity for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals (GLB) in the United States military. In-depth interviews wer...ABSTRACT This study examines communicative stigmatization processes and their influence on self-concept clarity for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals (GLB) in the United States military. In-depth interviews were conducted with GLB (N = 16) military service members and veterans, and data were analyzed using grounded theory analysis. Findings revealed that GLB identity repudiation incites feelings of identity incongruity for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in the U.S. military. GLB identity repudiation was composed of three key communicative practices. Further, because non-heterosexuality was viewed as seemingly incompatible with the military identity, many participants struggled to integrate their two social identities effectively. As such, participants employed several strategies to manage their conflicting sexual and role identities.

Polygamous Family Structure: How Communication Affects the Division of Household Labor

Using structuration theory, this study explores the division of labor in polygamous families, specifically how families establish and maintain roles, and how family structure adjusts to changing group memberships. Constant comparative analysis revealed that plural families construct organizational structure to coordinate family roles by establishing a managerial hierarchy, “building children,” negotiating formal roles, assuming informal roles based on individual talents, and compromising for the common good. In response to changing group membership, group communication processes recreate plural family structures in response to change through three readjustment strategies: relinquishing authority, reassigning roles, and integrating members constructively.