Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

Microaggression Experiences of Queer Science Students in Their Departments

Madison L. Fitzgerald-Russell 1 * ,
Megan Grunert Kowalske 1
1 Western Michigan University* Corresponding Author
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Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Volume 5, Issue 2, May 2022, pp. 131-153
OPEN ACCESS VIEWS: 1928 DOWNLOADS: 1090 Publication date: 15 May 2022
ABSTRACT
This study explored how the feelings of comfort and safety of LGBTQ+ undergraduate science majors in their departments at a mid-size Midwestern university affected their academic success. The literature provides a number of studies about LGBTQ+ STEM faculty, campus and departmental climate studies for LGBTQ+ students, and microaggressions experienced by a variety of students and faculty from historically underrepresented groups. There is little literature directly connecting campus climate work to STEM departments’ climates and the experiences of LGBTQ+ undergraduates. This study utilized a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of STEM majors who identified as LGBTQ+. A narrative approach to the research emphasized the voices of these marginalized students. Three participants participated in one interview per semester over two subsequent semesters for a total of six interviews, which were then coded using emergent themes. The most interesting findings were related to potential microaggressions experienced by the students, such as specific passive negative experiences or general negative feelings about expressing their identities. This study found that LGBTQ+ undergraduates in science departments may experience microaggressions because of their sexual orientation but may lack the language to describe these situations in detail or identify them as harmful. Thus, there is a need to examine and potentially improve science students’ language tools to better identify and describe these experiences.
KEYWORDS
LGBTQ+, Undergraduate students, Queer in STEM, Microaggressions
CITATION (APA)
Fitzgerald-Russell, M. L., & Grunert Kowalske, M. (2022). Microaggression Experiences of Queer Science Students in Their Departments. Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 5(2), 131-153. https://doi.org/10.31756/jrsmte.522
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