Graduate Program
College Student Affairs
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Semester of Degree Completion
2010
Thesis Director
Charles Eberly
Thesis Committee Member
John Bickford
Thesis Committee Member
Lou Hencken
Abstract
The purpose of this study conducted, at a mid-sized Midwestern university, was to examine the ally development of heterosexual college students, specifically with gay, lesbian and bisexual populations. Five participants who were current college students, who self-identified as heterosexual allies, took part in open-ended life-history interviews in which they were asked to share their perspective on what may have affected their ally development. The interviews specifically probed what, if any, institutional resources, faculty or staff members may have assisted in their development, as well as if any precollege factors made them more susceptible to developing into an ally in college. Responses from the five participants showed their ally development to be in spite of any university involvement rather than because of it. The theory developed from this present qualitative study shows that the student's in-place value system, their interactions with homosexual and bisexual individuals and their pre-college experiences played the largest role in their ally development. Future recommendations for practitioners and researchers include conducting this study on a campus that has more administrative support to homosexual and bisexual students to see if there are any changes in the affects to ally development, as well as developing supportive and informative institutional structures for all students seeking information.
Recommended Citation
Ambuske, Miranda Therese, "A Qualitative Study Of Heterosexual Ally Development Among The Traditional Student Population At A Mid-Sized Midwestern University" (2010). Masters Theses. 162.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/162
