Gender Expression and Students' Lived Experiences on College Campuses

• In Event: Gender in Higher and Adult Education

Abstract

Previous research has documented different, often negative and discriminatory, campus experiences and climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender university students (Rankin 2003, Rankin et al. 2010, for example), but much less focus has been placed on gender expression as a distinct and salient part of a student’s on-campus experience. This study uses 2016 undergraduate survey data from the University of California to describe associations between students’ normative and non-normative gender expression and their classroom behavior, experience of campus climate and ability to meet basic needs. It provides evidence that students who have non-normative gender expressions—especially those that identify as straight—are marginalized from the university community and have more concerns about meeting basic needs.

Author

• Joseph Charles Van Matre, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam