College and career choices of gay students who use a gay style

This thesis examines the college and career decision-making practices of 11 gay males. It explores how the participants’ gay interactional style impacted their college and career choices. I use Constructivist Grounded Theory to analyze the data to explain and analyze how the participants negotiated their sexual orientation and gender identities with their college and career choices. My analysis resulted in two categories: Gay Interactional Style and Being Comfortable. The participants described their gay style as the use of qualities more associated with femininity, such as a high-pitched voice. Due to this gay style, they sought out schools and workplaces that they perceived as a safe place where they could be their authentic selves. Moreover, participants escaped homophobic environments to go to a college in a gay-friendly city where they could comfortably explore and embrace their gay identity. This thesis offers insight into the impact a gay style has on the academic and career choices of gay males. Lastly, it provides tools and recommendations for teachers, administrators, and leaders on how they can better aid gay students in and out of the classroom.