James Bowyer

Kenneth Douglas

Title:
Come Out and Play: An Exploratory Study of Identity Development Among Gay Male University Music Students

Abstract:
The researchers are developing a qualitative research project that looks at the experience of gay male students (perhaps 2-5?) in the context of undergraduate music study in a public Midwestern university. These case studies could reveal if or how the “coming out” process is facilitated within a university music community. Do the classrooms, student spaces, courses, administrative personnel, or particular professors affect students’ willingness to come out, as well as their perception of safety and support? Two students have enthusiastically offered to participate in the study. Our university IRB has given preliminary approval for the study and will work with the researchers to ensure that student subjects’ identities and data will be kept confidential and that the study will be carried out with ethical scrutiny. Face-to-face interviews with subjects will be conducted. This conference will afford the researchers the opportunity to engage with other researchers to hone these questions, narrow the scope, identify limitations and delimitations, develop research instruments, and conduct a literature review.