Title

To Be or Not To Be Out in the Classroom: Exploring Communication Privacy Management Strategies of Lesbian, Gay, and Queer College Teachers

Authors

Tim McKenna-Buchanan, Manchester University
Stevie Munz, Ohio University
Justin J. Rudnick, Minnesota State University, MankatoFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, and queer (LGQ) teachers often deal with the tension between disclosing and concealing their sexual orientations in the college classroom. This article presents the results of a qualitative interview study with 29 self-identified LGQ college teachers about their choices to disclose or conceal their sexual identities. Using Communication Privacy Management (CPM) as a theoretical framework, interview transcripts were thematically analyzed for privacy rule criteria and disclosure/concealment strategies. This study contributes to previous understanding of CPM by magnifying five strategies for disclosing or concealing sexual identity: selection, reciprocity, ambiguity, deflection, and avoidance. These findings are discussed in greater detail, and implications for CPM theory and teacher sexual identity disclosure in the classroom are further explored.

Department

Communication Studies

Publication Title

Communication Education

Recommended Citation

McKenna-Buchanan, T.P., Munz, S.M., & Rudnick, J.J. (2015). To Be or Not To Be Out in the Classroom: Exploring Communication Privacy Management Strategies of Lesbian, Gay, and Queer College Teachers. Communication Education, 64(3), 280-300. doi. 10.1080/03634523.2015.1014385

DOI

10.1080/03634523.2015.1014385

Link to Publisher Version (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03634523.2015.1014385

Publisher's Copyright and Source

Copyright © 2015 National Communication Association. Article published by Taylor and Francis in Communication Education, volume 64, issue number 3, pages 280-300. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03634523.2015.1014385