Date Approved
2015
Degree Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department or School
Communication, Media and Theatre Arts
Committee Member
Dr. Michael Tew
Committee Member
Dr. Tsai Shen
Committee Member
Dr. Elizabeth Currans
Abstract
The culture in which a woman is a part of sets expectations based on their gender. This paper explores how the relationship between prescribed gender roles, internalized homophobia, and coming out of the closet are related. A focus group of seven women who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, and queer was conducted. The findings suggest that gender roles do limit the way women view themselves, that religion is the largest contributor to internalized homophobia, and that gender expression changes throughout the coming out process as these queer women developed a stronger sense of their identity. Future research should include voices of trans* individuals and women who have been out for more than ten years.
Recommended Citation
Richards, Nicole M., "Gender roles, homophobia, and the closet: Experiences of queer women" (2015). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 721.
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/721