Regulating sexualities through gender-based rhetoric: Examining the nuanced realities of queer women of color in culturally based sororities.

Abstract

Culturally based sororities emerged on college campuses in order to combat the race-based discrimination faced in historically white sororities. Despite their historic mission to attend to racial issues, questions remain of how culturally based sororities attend to other identities and forms of oppression in these spaces. Centering the stories of 20 Queer Women of Color, this critical narrative inquiry study sought to understand how members of culturally based sororities used gender-based rhetoric to regulate sexual minorities in these spaces. Findings revealed how organizations constructed what it meant to be a Woman of Color, how they used gendered stereotypes and sexuality in recruitment/selection, and the differences that existed between chapters and national organizations. Implications for future research and practice are then offered.

Critically examining the experiences of queer people of color in culturally-based sororities and fraternities.

“…Particularly, most individuals discussed how they were wary of disclosing their identities, as well as living out their social identities as undergraduate students. Though existing research on Queer People of Color in higher education show the calculated decisions that these individuals make around disclosure relative to sexuality (e.g., Garcia & Duran, 2021b; Narui, 2011), it is imperative that these choices not be read as problematic. Instead, this represents a form of survival.…”

“…Notably, there is a shortage of studies examining these dynamics from the perspectives of queer members within organizations, instead often centering the voices of those with dominant identities. What does exist suggests that queer members make decisions regarding their gender expression and sexuality in response to cultures that can perpetuate hegemonic gender and sexual norms (e.g., Garcia & Duran, 2020, 2021b; Williams, 2017).…”

“…Research on CBSFs provides insight to the history of these organizations and how individuals experience their membership within them. Emergent work examining dynamics around gender and sexuality within CBSFs show ways heteronormativity and hegemonic forms of masculinities and femininities appear within these groups (Anderson et al, 2011; DeSantis & Coleman, 2008; Garcia & Duran, 2021b; Jenkins, 2012; Khoury, 2013). Notably, there is a shortage of studies examining these dynamics from the perspectives of queer members within organizations, instead often centering the voices of those with dominant identities.…”